The Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) issued a new casino owners’ license to Wind Creek Chicago Southland in Homewood and East Hazel Crest during its final meeting of 2024 on Thursday, Dec. 12.
Before the vote, representatives from the casino addressed the board about their suitability for licensure, providing highlights of their operations since opening and sharing their future plans.
“Wind Creek is Illinois’ 16th casino,” said IGB Administrator Marcus D. Fruchter. “This is the sixth casino license the IGB has issued since enactment of the 2019 landmark gaming expansion legislation that authorized six new casino licenses.”
The IGB has collected more than $386 million in upfront gaming fees from those new casino operators since the first of the new casinos opened in Rockford in November 2021, Fruchter said.
“The fees have been deposited into the Rebuild Illinois fund for critical infrastructure projects across our state,” Fruchter said.
The IGB will conduct its next scheduled regular meeting on Feb. 6, 2025. To view agendas, minutes, recorded meetings and other information, visit the IGB website.
Illinois is home to 16 casinos, 15 approved sportsbooks and a network of more than 8,700 licensed video gaming establishments.
Anyone who believes they or a loved one has a gambling problem should visit the IGB website for information about the IGB’s Self-Exclusion Program and Are You Really Winning – Illinois Helpline (helplineil.org) for information about the Illinois Department of Human Services Division of Substance Use Prevention and Recovery Program.
Problem gambling counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (800-426-2537) or by texting GAMB to 833234.
