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The Full House Resorts American Place temporary casino is scheduled to open in Waukegan, Illinois, early this year.
The City Council unanimously approved the Illinois casino ground lease and development agreement with Full House, the Chicago Tribune states.
During the committee meeting, Stewart Weiss, the city’s corporation counsel, said finalizing all agreements with Full House was one of the license requirements. All contracts between the two parties were necessary before the Illinois Gaming Board could permit the company to open the casino.
The approval allows Full House Resorts to proceed toward getting a license to operate the temporary casino in the Chicago suburb. Additionally, it will also enable the gaming company to (eventually) launch the permanent casino in Waukegan.
As for Waukegan, the city will soon get a clearer picture of what some of the benefits to its residents will be. What is certain, however, is that the city will benefit from a ground lease, a head tax on those entering the casino and property taxes.
The three-phase American Place casino development
As Weiss told the Chicago Tribune:
“Through January, Full House will be undergoing final inspections and licensing with the IGB. The state gambling license is the last thing. We are approving the final documents to allow them to commence operations.”
According to Weiss, the development will consist of a three-phase transaction:
- The temporary facility
- The permanent casino with a 20-room boutique suite hotel
- Entertainment venue and more dining options
The American Place should open within three years of the temporary casino’s starting date.
The next phase, a 150-room 3-star hotel, is scheduled to open within the next two years. The project development of the casino and the surrounding area will evolve over the next five years.
Temporary Waukegan casino just months away
After the committee meeting on Tuesday, it was more certain what The American Place temporary casino would look like.
Full House Resorts unveiled its plans for the temporary casino in Waukegan, saying gambling operations are only six months away.
Once the 75,000-square-foot temporary casino opens, it will feature the following:
- 1,000 slot machines
- 50 table games
- Sportsbook for players to bet on their favorite teams
- A variety of dining options
The Permanent American Place Casino to open in 2025
Full House is also finalizing its plans to create a permanent casino resort, which would be much larger than the temporary one.
The permanent gaming venue will feature 325,000 square feet of entertainment space. Once completed, the permanent casino location will include:
- More than 1,600 slots
- 100 table games
- Permanent sportsbook
- 1,500-seat entertainment venue
The permanent casino will also have 20 luxury villas between 1,500 and 2,500 square feet.
Casino project development to create more than 400 job opportunities
During its development phase, the casino project will create more than 400 jobs in the region.
The jobs will mainly include slot machine technicians, game dealers plus sales and marketing operations professions.
Once completed, the casino and resort is expected to be a major attraction, bringing more tourists to the area.
