The owners of Des Plains’ Rivers Casino have shown interest in building a casino in Waukegan.

Churchill Downs Inc. and Rush Street Gaming revealed on August 22nd that they are to enter the competition for a Waukegan casino operating license as part of the massive gambling expansion which the Governor or Illinois officially signed into law earlier this summer.

The two gambling giants, who jointly own and operate Arlington International Racecourse and Des Plaines’ Rivers Casino, shared that, if given the green light, their proposed new entity is to be called Rivers Casino Waukegan. The project for the casino involves 1,625-gaming positions and is expected to create more than 900 construction jobs and over 1,200 jobs after construction works are finalized, according to the news release issued by the two companies to announce the plan. Apart from that, the Rivers Casino Waukegan would feature a poker room, which is not currently available in the group’s Des Plaines casino.

SPRINGFIELD — Kentucky-based Churchill Downs Inc. Completed its $326 million acquisition of a majority stake in Rivers Casino in Des Plaines despite state gambling regulators concerns that the new ownership group does not include enough women and minorities. Rivers Casino is a casino in Des Plaines, Illinois, United States, a northern suburb of Chicago. It is minutes away from O'Hare International Airport. Rivers Casino opened on July 18, 2011. It is majority-owned by Churchill Downs Inc., and managed by its minority owner, Rush Street Gaming. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia The Rivers Casino (originally going to be named the Majestic Star Casino) is a casino in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. It is owned by Holdings Acquisition Co. L.P., a joint venture of Walton Street Capital LLC and High Pitt Gaming LP. 15, lawyers with the firm of Werman Salas P.C., of Chicago, and of Fitapelli & Schaffer LLP, of New York, filed suit in Cook County Circuit Court against Midwest Gaming & Entertainment LLC, the owners of Rivers Casino in Des Plaines. The named plaintiff in that putative class action was identified as Leon Martin.

The companies have been considering the Fountain Square property, which is owned by the city and has been pointed as one of the most suitable spots to host a casino. As a matter of fact, a casino construction there was proposed by supporters of gambling expansion more than ten years ago, but Illinois legislators decided to grant the casino license to the city of Des Plaines, which hosted the Rivers Casino in 2011.

Rivers Casino Des Plaines Ownership

The two companies said they would be pleased to be taken into consideration as developers and operators for the new gambling destination not only for the city, but also for Lake County and Illinois as a whole.

Illinois Gaming Board to Make the Final Decision on Issuing the Casino License

According to preliminary estimates provided by Churchill Downs Inc. and Rush Street Gaming, their casino project could bring over $150 million to the local economy every year.

So far, six groups have entered the competition for a casino license in the city of Waukegan, as revealed by local officials who are expected to unveil a list of the frontrunners in the upcoming week. Then, the city is set to recommend one or more of these finalists to the state’s gambling regulatory body – the Illinois Gaming Board – by October 26th. It is the gambling regulator of Illinois which has the final decision on issuing a license.

The joint venture between Rush Street and Churchill Downs Inc. has been the fourth group to announce their interest in building and operating a new Waukegan-based gambling venue. The rest of the companies which have announced they are among the bidders for the project are Full House Resorts Inc., Potawatomi Hotel & Casino and North Point Casino.

The proposals for ownership of the new casino in Waukegan has been made possible with the long-expected gambling expansion of the state, which Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker signed into law in June 2019. Under the expansion, legislators granted Chicago, Rockford, Waukegan, as well as three other locations in the state with permission to establish new casinos.

PITTSBURGH--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Rush Street Gaming announced today that Bill Keena, formerly general manager of Rivers Casino in Des Plaines, Illinois, has joined Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh as general manager. Keena and Rush Street opened Rivers Casino in Des Plaines in July 2011. The Chicago-area venue quickly became Illinois’ top-performing casino and has been ever since.

A 30-year casino veteran, Keena began his gaming career in 1988, after graduating from the University of Las Vegas. He joined Harrah’s finance department, where his responsibilities grew to include casino and hotel oversight as general manager of Harrah’s Laughlin, Nevada, and Harrah’s St. Louis, Missouri. Thereafter, he was promoted to regional president for Harrah’s, simultaneously overseeing four full-service casinos and resorts, two in Missouri and two in Iowa.

Rivers Pittsburgh marks Keena’s return to the Rush Street family. He rejoins the company effective immediately, pending approval from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.

Rivers Casino Des Plaines Ownership

“We are thrilled to have Bill back and running one of our properties,” said Greg Carlin, CEO of Rush Street Gaming. “He is an exceptional leader, focused on providing the best customer experience, working closely with the community and fostering our Team Member culture.”

Keena succeeds Craig Clark, who recently left Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh. “We thank Craig for his many years of service and wish him the best,” said Carlin.

Rivers Casino opened on Pittsburgh’s North Shore in August of 2009. It features more than 2,900 slots, 92 tables games, a 30-table poker room, nine distinctive restaurants and bars, a riverside amphitheater and a multi-purpose event center. Rivers employs approximately 1,700 Team Members and has been named “Best Overall Gaming Resort in Pennsylvania” for eight consecutive years by Casino Player magazine.

Rivers Casino Des Plaines Ownership

About Rush Street Gaming

Founded by Neil Bluhm and Greg Carlin, Rush Street Gaming and its affiliates have developed and operate successful casinos in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Des Plaines, IL (Chicago area) and Schenectady, NY. By placing an emphasis on superior design and outstanding customer service, Rush Street Gaming has become one of the leading casino developers in the United States. Rush Street’s casinos employ approximately 9,000 Team Members and generate more than $1 billion in annual gaming revenues. For more information, visit www.rushstreetgaming.com.