The American Place casino in Waukegan is playing an important role in the growing revenue of its parent company, Las Vegas-based Full House Resorts, as executives tweak plans for the permanent hotel and casino, which they hope to open in the summer of 2027.
Reaching a revenue milestone in March of nearly $10.9 million, American Place continues to draw customers from northern Illinois, southern Wisconsin, and elsewhere in Chicagoland, leading Full House President and CEO Daniel R. Lee to tout its role for the company.
Lee said in a May 8 press release that American Place took “meaningful strides” in the first quarter of this year at its temporary facility, and anticipates a much stronger performance once the permanent resort and casino opens.
“These milestones underscore American Place’s continuing momentum,” Lee said in the release. “Chicago’s northern suburbs have long lacked a premium gaming and entertainment destination, and we believe the luxurious amenities of our planned permanent casino will fill that gap.”
American Place and Full House officials are refining their plans for the permanent resort and casino based on what they are learning from the temporary operation, with a goal of seeking a conditional use permit from the Waukegan City Council this summer.
As a company, Full House posted $75.1 million in revenue for the first quarter of this year ending March 31 — a 7.3% increase over the same period last year, according to the release. American Place’s performance was a major reason.
Though Jeff Babinski, American Place’s vice president and general manager, was not willing to project the increase in revenue when the permanent casino opens, he pointed out that when the Rockford casino went from temporary to permanent, revenue more than doubled.
Alex Stolyar, Full House’s senior vice president and chief development officer, said he does not anticipate significant changes to plans made for the permanent facility from when the temporary casino opened in February of 2023.
“We’re looking at minor changes to the gaming floor based on what we’ve learned from operating the temporary,” Stolyar said, “We’re working full steam ahead with our plans to open in August 2027.”
Stolyar said initially the plan was to have 1,640 slot machines and 100 table games on the casino floor. There could be some changes based on the popularity of which games and machines are the most popular among current customers.
Along with table games and slot machines, the permanent casino will have four restaurants ranging from high-end to casual. There will also be a 1,500-seat entertainment venue, and a 20-suite luxury suite hotel on the property.
A sportsbook operated by Circa Sports is currently taking bets in the temporary casino. It will have an operation in the permanent facility as well.
Since the casino opened its temporary location over two years ago, Babinski, said that the casino’s net gaming revenue — the amount of money gambled less people’s winnings — has continued to grow. He credits the staff.
“When the staff treats people well and they have an amazing experience, they will come back,” he said. “We’ve received (local and national) awards as a top workplace. When you have that kind of team, it’s a winning combination.”
Babinski said American Place was considered a top workplace in the Chicago area by the Chicago Tribune — the only casino so noted — and nationally by USA Today.
Setting a goal of exceeding $10 million in net gaming revenue, Babinski said the company was thrilled when it hit $10.98 million in March to help Full House’s earnings report for the first quarter of 2025. It was $9.9 million in April, but he expects to continue to top $10 million.
“We had more high table game winners in April than usual,” Babinski said.
Full House received a unanimous recommendation for its conditional use permit from the Waukegan Planning and Zoning Commission in August of 2023. Plans to go to the City Council were tabled when the Illinois Appellate Court for the First District put a question mark on the license awarded by the Illinois Gaming Board in November of 2021.
The same day the gaming board awarded the license, the Waukegan Potawatomi Casino sued the city of Waukegan and the gaming board to stop the proceedings. A Cook County Court judge dismissed the case, but the appellate court reinstated it in August of 2023. The Illinois Supreme Court overruled the decision in January.
