Closest Casino Downtown Chicago
Gambling is still not permitted in the city of Chicago, but you’d don’t have to go to a seedy backroom controlled by the mafia if you’re looking to get in on some Vegas action. There are many casinos not far from the city these days; here are a few of our favorites, in no particular order.
New casino licenses located in Cook County — where downtown Chicago is — would require an upfront payment of $30,000 per gaming position, a figure that turns into a potential $120 million payment should a downtown Chicago casino utilize the full 4,000 positions made available per the expansion bill. The best casinos near Chicago. Thanks to the proximity to downtown (a 17-mile shot over the Chicago Skyway) and free shuttles roaming Chicago. Grab a cocktail (they run as cheap as $4) at Push. The two closest casinos to Chicago, are not surprisingly the area’s two most successful (in terms of annual gaming revenue). The Horseshoe Hammond and Rivers Casinos are both within 18 miles of.
#1 Rivers Casino (Des Plaines)
Built in 2011, the suburban casino is just a few minutes from O’Hare. Besides games, they offer a steakhouse and regularly booked entertainment.
#2 Horseshoe Casino (Hammond, Indiana)
There’s plenty of gaming across the 350,000 square feet along with food (the Paula Deen buffet is delicious) and entertainment. They also have well-built, affordable rooms, and a heated pool, so the casino can also serve as a weekend getaway.
#3 The Isle of Capri Casino (Bettendorf)
This luxury floating casino isn’t the place to bring the kids, but $79 a night for rooms and great dining options make it a fun adults-only getaway.
#4 Majestic Star Casino (Gary, Indiana)
It’s not Vegas, but the Majestic Star Casino has over 1500 slots and video poker machines. Only 40 minutes away from Chicago, they also supply entertainment and a luxury steakhouse.
#5 Blue Chip Casino Hotel (Michigan City, Indiana)
Blue Chip offers a unique Vegas-luxury experience. It’s not as massive as Horseshoe, but offers machines and tables for every gambler. Spend the night for less than $100 and be sure to check out the spa while you’re at it.
#6 Par-A-Dice Casino (East Peoria)
This riverboat casino is for adults only and comes equipped with a gym facility. There’s also a free soda fountain, which will help you keep going until close at 6:00 am.
#7 Harrah’s Casino (Joliet)
Harrah’s is very chic, offering excellent shopping, a 4.5 star hotel, and upscale Asian cuisine. It seems crazy there’s a casino this great is in Joliet, but it’s true!
#8 Grand Victoria Casino (Elgin)
This riverboat casino is consistently named one of the best casinos in Chicagoland. They truly cater to their customers by offering free parking, free admission, and always have a variety of promotions. Their slots are also certified to be the loosest in the area. You can’t make a weekend out of this casino, but they have four great restaurants to dine in.
#9 Ameristar Casino (East Chicago, Indiana)
Only about 25 miles from downtown Chicago, Ameristar Casino features a four-scale luxury hotel and free parking. Besides the penny slots, people come far and wide for the Friday night seafood buffet.
#10 Hollywood Casino (Aurora)
Hollywood Casino regularly brings in big entertainment to its fun-packed casino. They have over 1100 slots, 27 tables, a high-stakes poker salon, and a fantastic steakhouse.
Of course, you always have the option to stay at home and play online. Check out OnlineCasinoUSABonus.com for online casino reviews, bonuses, and welcome promotions.
You can also find reviews of the top USA casino promo codes at USACasinoCodes.com.
Or if you prefer playing poker, visit GPSTS.org for more information.
More Articles from The Chicago Traveler
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The city of Chicago issued a request for information (RFI) on Aug. 27 to seek creative ideas for its coveted downtown casino project.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot wants to hear strategies from casino operators and real estate developers.
However, there is plenty to figure out.
According to Lightfoot, a downtown casino could be a massively profitable endeavor for the city.
“After securing favorable legislation that had eluded us for decades, Chicago can finally pursue a once-in-a-generation opportunity to bring a casino to our city, generating hundreds of millions in new gaming revenues to shore up the city’s pension obligations and drive huge levels of infrastructure funding in Illinois as well as creating thousands of new and much-needed jobs for local residents.
This is the right time to begin having these discussions as we continue to lay the foundation to make a strong recovery from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
The biggest question to start with is where the casino should be located.
The official RFI, which you can read in full here, also solicits the community for comment on the following:
- Requirements for operating a temporary casino.
- Recommendations on the size and scope of a gaming complex.
- Amenities that would help to enhance revenue.
- How to address COVID-19 as part of the development.
- Best approaches toward community engagement.
Responses from the public must be emailed to the city of Chicago by Oct.21.
Casinos In Chicago
Location complications
Lightfoot suggested five casino locations in January. They were:
- Harborside
- Michael Reese
- Pershing and State
- Roosevelt and Kostner
- US Steel
All five locations are on the south or west sides of the city. Lightfoot insists the list is not definitive, but Illinois Gov.J.B. Pritzker supports those locations to spur economic development.
Industry experts, however, believe these will be the least profitable areas. They’ve advocated for a location close to or in the heart of downtown.
The thinking is that it would be more easily accessible to tourists and close to high-quality hotels. Last summer, a state-mandated consultant said that a centrally located casino could rake in $1.2 billion per year, nearly triple Illinois‘ most profitable casino at the moment.
Expect location to be a central part of this process, because it will directly impact revenue. There may be competing agendas at play here. However, it’s notable that Lightfoot explicitly mentions Chicago’s pension obligations in the statement.
Lightfoot has helped make Chicago casino project feasible
Originally, the Illinois gaming bill imposed an effective tax rate of 72% for a Chicago casino.
A feasibility study conducted by Union Gaming Analytics deemed it “impossible” to develop a profitable casino with that burden.
As a result, Lightfoot’s team pushed for a legislative fix in Springfield. Here are the new tax rates on slot revenue:
Closest Casino Downtown Chicago Magnificent Mile
- Up to and including $25 million: 12% to the state and 10.5% to the city of Chicago
- $25,000,001 to $50,000,000: 16% to IL and 14% to Chicago
- $50,000,001 to $75,000,000: 20.1% to IL and 17.4% to Chicago
- $75,000,001 to $100,000,000: 21.4% to IL and 18.6% to Chicago
- $100,000,001 to $150,000,000: 22.7% to IL and 19.8% to Chicago
- $150,000,001 to $225,000,000: 24.1% to IL and 20.9% to Chicago
- $225,000,001 to $1 billion: 26.8% to IL and 23.2% to Chicago
- Over $1 billion: 40% to IL and 34.7% to Chicago
The tax rates themselves didn’t change much, but the tier thresholds did.
Previously, there was a gaudy 74.7% tax on revenue from slots above $200 million. Now, that threshold is $1 billion.
Current list of Illinois casinos
The closest casino to downtown Chicago at the moment is Rivers Casino in Des Plaines. Here are the additional nine Illinois casinos:
Casinos Near Chicago Il
- Argosy Casino Alton
- DraftKings at Casino Queen
- Grand Victoria Casino Elgin
- Harrah’s Joliet
- Harrah’s Metropolis
- Hollywood Casino Aurora
- Hollywood Casino Joliet
- Jumer’s Casino & Hotel
- Par-A-Dice Casino
Closest Casino To Downtown Chicago
Six new casinos were approved in the 2019 bill, including the Chicago location.
Downtown Chicago Map
For what it’s worth, a Chicago casino is likely a long way off. The press release refers to the RFI as “a first step.”
A least it’s a step, nonetheless.