Penn Entertainment revealed on Monday that it intends to relocate Hollywood Casino Joliet and Aurora from riverboat locations to land-based gaming sites near interstates. Jay Snowden, Penn Entertainment’s CEO, stated that the casino operator intends to shift Aurora to a high-end, modern hotel and casino off I-88. It will allow the company to serve more clients near Simon Premium Outlet Mall.
The executive added that it will move Joliet to the Rock Run Crossings in a development mixed-use project near the I-55 and I-80 interchange. It will provide better accessibility and visibility.
Snowden revealed that the two casino projects will greatly improve the gaming operator’s products in the attractive and competitive Chicagoland Market. Besides, it will provide local communities with many full-time jobs.
Aurora Casino’s Proposal
Hollywood Casino Aurora announced that it will shift to another land-based property off I-88 in Aurora. The new proposed casino will be near Exit 119 of Interstate 88 in Aurora, adjacent to the Chicago Premium Outlets mall. It will replace the Hollywood Casino riverboat gaming site.
Penn Entertainment disclosed that the Aurora project will cost $360 million. It will constitute 50 live table games and 900 slot machines. Moreover, it will have a baccarat and poker room.
The project will feature a Barstool Sportsbook that can host famous Barstool personalities. It will have a 200-room hotel, a bar, and restaurants. There will be 10,000 square feet of meetings, an event center, and a full spa.
The casino operator added that the Aurora casino will transfer part of the land from Aurora City since it will be developed on land that the city paid for $7 million in 2018 with two hotels on site. The city will fund $50 million of the project’s budget by issuing bonds. Even so, the Aurora City Council has to approve these plans first.
Joliet Casino’s Proposal
Penn Entertainment will move Hollywood Casino in Aurora and Joliet but will stay in the two towns. Yet, it plans to build an advanced Joliet casino being part of its Rock Run Crossings project near the Interstate 55 and 80 interchange, a few miles from the current Des Plaines River location.
The land-based casino will have a Barstool bookmaker, a baccarat room, 45 live table games, and 800 slot machines. It will cost about $185 million, have high-end restaurants and bars, an event center, and 10,000 square feet of meeting space. But the city council has to approve the proposal first.
Joliet’s Rock Run Crossings’ Cullinan Properties Development started slowly, and various television channels have discussed it for more than five years. Yet, most of the construction work has been done since October 2020 near the southeast frontage road. It is at 777 Hollywood Boulevard, even though more than a hundred acres of the surrounding land is for industrial development.
Penn Entertainment stated that the City Council Finance Committee will meet on October 13, 2022, to deliberate on the two casino proposals. It will allow the public to give opinions about the projects during the meeting, and the casino operator will start constructing the land-based properties in late 2023 once the city approves its proposals.
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