Wind Creek Chicago Southland generated some big numbers during its first three weeks of operations in November, boosting statewide casino revenue to its best month of the year.
The new south suburban casino, which opened Nov. 11 to large crowds, ranked fifth last month among the state’s 16 casinos with nearly $10.2 million in adjusted gross receipts, and drew more than 141,500 visitors, second only to perennial leader Rivers Casino Des Plaines.
“We are thrilled by the enthusiastic response to our opening last month, and we are greeting new guests at the property daily,” Roger Kuehn, Wind Creek’s general manager, said in an emailed statement Monday. “We anticipate keeping a steady momentum as we roll out more programming … new promotions and more offers to our Wind Creek players.”
Some of Wind Creek’s gain may have come at the expense of Bally’s Chicago, which saw declines for November. But statewide revenue was up 11.8% from October to nearly $153 million in adjusted gross receipts, due in large part to the fledgling casino bringing new money to the table, according to Illinois Gaming Board data.
Statewide casino admissions were up 14.6% to 1.25 million visitors during November, also a high-water mark for the year. In addition to Wind Creek, a new permanent facility for Hard Rock Rockford has also shaken up the state’s established casino order and contributed significantly to the gains.
Rivers Casino remains the busiest and top revenue-generating casino in the state, with 258,000 visitors generating $43.3 million in adjusted gross receipts for November, according to Gaming Board data. Grand Victoria in Elgin was second in revenue, at $12.1 million, followed by Hard Rock Rockford, at $11.7 million in adjusted gross receipts.
Hard Rock saw its monthly revenue and admissions jump from the middle of the pack to near the top after moving from a temporary facility to a $300 million permanent casino in late August.
Wind Creek, owned by the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, opened for business in its permanent 70,000 square foot casino in East Hazel Crest on Nov. 11, with long lines forming hours ahead of the launch. The facility features 1,400 slot machines, 56 table games and other gaming attractions. A hotel with a spa and steakhouse is scheduled to open early next year.
Located less than 10 miles from the Indiana state line off the Tri-State Tollway, the Wind Creek casino borders parking garages in Homewood, which has a revenue-sharing agreement with East Hazel Crest.
More than 50,000 visitors checked out the new casino during its first week, according to Wind Creek.
The new casino’s three-week run in November accounted for nearly two-thirds of the state’s $16 million revenue gain in November
Bally’s Chicago, meanwhile, saw a 9.5% drop in revenue to $9.7 million in adjusted gross receipts for November — its lowest total since January. Admissions fell by about 2% to 108,455 visitors, the fewest since February, according to Gaming Board data. In addressing the declines, Bally’s focused on year-over-year growth, comparing November’s tepid results to its third month of operations in 2023.
“Our November results demonstrated substantial growth compared to the same period last year, with adjusted gaming revenue rising by 27.8% and admissions increasing by 25.4%,” a Bally’s spokesperson said in an emailed statement Monday.
While new permanent casinos in Rockford and the south suburbs have generated significant revenue gains, Chicago may have to wait a few years for a similar boost.
Bally’s opened its temporary facility at the Medinah Temple in September 2023 and is building its permanent casino on the 30-acre former Tribune Publishing printing plant site in River West. The $1.7 billion proposal, which includes an exhibition hall, a 500-room hotel, a 3,000-seat theater, 10 restaurants and 4,000 gaming positions, is slated to open in September 2026.
Demolition of the 43-year-old Freedom Center, which began in August, is continuing, with groundbreaking for the new casino complex expected in the first quarter, a Bally’s spokesperson said.
rchannick@chicagotribune.com
