City Picks Five Possible Sites for Future Casino

CHICAGO—The City of Chicago is now conducting studies and reviews to eventually develop a casino gaming facility in the city.

Chicago Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot announced on Wednesday that the city has submitted five sites to be tested: Harborside (111th and the Bishop Ford Freeway); the former Michael Reese hospital (31st and Cottage Grove); Pershing & State; Roosevelt & Kostner; and the former U.S. Steel parcel (80th and Lake Shore Dr.). Each of the five potential project sites has been previously considered for a prospective casino or other major development in the past, and are largely comprised of publicly owned land.

The study follows the recently enacted legislation by the Illinois Legislature to develop Chicago’s first-ever casino. The city has hired a consultant to perform an economic development study. Union Gaming was selected through a procurement led by the Illinois Gaming Board and consented to by the City of Chicago. The firm has 45 days to complete its revenue forecast and to deliver its findings to the state and the city.

“While a Chicago casino had been talked about for more than 30 years, today we are moving forward to ensure the new casino is viable for Chicago and all of its communities,” said Mayor Lightfoot. “Thanks to our partnership with Governor Pritzker, Speaker Madigan, President Cullerton and other state leaders, together we are advancing a shared vision for new revenues that will benefit Chicago’s severely underfunded pension funds, while generating new jobs and economic opportunity for communities across the city.”

Before a permanent site for the location is selected, the city will engage in an open and thorough community engagement process to solicit meaningful feedback on preferred areas throughout the city. The process will start with an online survey, followed by a series of community town hall-style meetings to be scheduled at a later date, city officials state.

The passage of the state law to authorize expanded gambling provisions statewide will grant Chicago the authority to determine what type of casino will be built and to partner with the Illinois Gaming Board to ensure it is operated and regulated appropriately. City Council approval of a casino is also required by ordinance.

Under the state law, new revenues from a Chicago casino will be directed to shore up Chicago’s underfunded police and fire pensions.