are there any casinos in downtown chicago

I’m betting on a Chicago casino, and the odds of getting one are 100 percent.” “Everyone from Chicago will travel downtown to the casinos,” predicts Roger Zak, a twice-a-week casino gambler who plays for entertainment and perks. Odds of Chicagoans gambling downtown are goodĪn estimated 25 percent of Chicago’s population are casino gamers or video poker players, and experts say they are eager to line up for the action and the fun of downtown gambling. All this new revenue will help lead Illinois and Chicago back to fiscal stability. Once the virus crisis is cured with a new vaccine – and downtown race riots subside – spin-off revenue from the casino should flow to the nearly bankrupt hotels, restaurants, museums, and boarded-up Michigan Avenue shops.Įxperts have estimated the casino would generate up to $6.6 billion in annual revenue, with direct tax revenue of $3-4 billion to the city and state. The request came after lawmakers in Springfield changed the casino tax structure and passed a pile of chips to the gaming industry.ĭesperate for gambling tax cash, the mayor also asked applicants to give thoughts on operating a temporary casino while a permanent one is under construction.ĭuh? Lakeside Center – the original McCormick Place East – is the obvious choice for an instant “pop-up” downtown casino that should raise millions in gaming tax dollars for the city as early as 2021.Įxperts say a ready-to-open-now downtown gaming palace would rapidly kick-start lost convention and tourist business that was killed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Mayor Lightfoot recently asked casino operators and real estate developers to submit plans on how they would build and run it.

The original McCormick Place East is the obvious choice for an instant downtown casino that could raise millions in gaming tax dollars for the city as early as 2021.ħ-Sep-20 – Now that the Windy City’s budget deficit has hit $1.2 billion, Mayor Lori Lightfoot is spinning the roulette wheel and pushing for the launch of a giant Chicago gambling casino.

Are there any casinos in downtown chicago