The Illinois City of Danville has been a constant in gambling expansion talks over the years. And while previous gambling expansion efforts had failed in the State Legislature, this year’s push concluded with Gov. J.B. Pritzker signing into law a sweeping gambling overhaul bill that, among other things, authorized up to six Las Vegas-style gambling venues around the state.
Danville was selected as one of the preferred hosts of the state’s new casinos. The City Council put out a request for proposals from interested casino developers in July, just a few days after Gov. Pritzker rubber-stamped the gambling expansion measure.
Seven different groups initially showed interest in participating in the RFP process, but three ended up submitting proper proposals. At a meeting Tuesday, the City Council selected Haven Gaming LLC as the preferred developer of the city’s casino.
Haven Gaming is a newly formed real estate developer and its management includes ex-state Rep. Lou Lang. The former legislator was a longtime proponent of expanded gambling. However, the gambling overhaul bill was singed into law after he had left the Legislature.
Haven Gaming’s Casino Project
The preferred developer plans to build a casino complex on a 42-acre site formerly occupied by industrial facilities. The site is directly adjacent to Illinois’ border with Indiana, just south of Interstate 74. The gambling venue will be strategically located to keep gamblers from the state within the state and to possibly draw customers from neighboring Indiana.
Scott Sypolt, a Chicago attorney with Haven Gaming, said that “you’re gonna pass this on I-74, and people are gonna say ‘wow’, and do a U-turn right in the middle of the highway.”
The casino portion of the resort will feature 2,000 gaming positions and a sportsbook. Aside from expanded casino gambling, the recently enforced gambling expansion bill also authorized sports betting activities at the state’s casinos.
In addition to its gambling floor, Danville’s new casino complex will also feature a hotel, full-service spa, live entertainment venue, convention center, multiple dining outlets, pool, 4,000 parking spots, and more.
Bill Bembenek, an official at Haven Gaming, said this week that “this is more than just a typical casino.” He went on that the property would be a resort complex, a destination, a “place that people will be excited to come to, and more importantly, more excited to come back to.”
A Shot in the Arm
A gambling venue could be the economic boost Danville has sought for years. Once a prosperous city with booming industrial activity, the city which is located two and a half hours south of Chicago has in recent years seen its population decline steadily, poverty rates soar, and industrial jobs decrease.
According to Mr. Lang, the former state Representative, their proposed casino complex could be “a shot in the arm” for Danville.
The property is projected to generate $230 million in annual revenue, which means that the host city, which would be entitled to a 6% share of the casino’s gross revenue, would receive up to $14 million in annual contributions.
In addition, the gambling resort is expected to create 400 construction jobs and more than 1,000 permanent jobs when fully operational.
Developers say their project will be implemented in three phases and is hoped to be finished within three years after the start of construction. As to when construction is set to kick off, Haven Gaming first needs to obtain a gaming license from the Illinois Gaming Board.
The developer has until October 28 to submit its license application to the regulator. And the Gaming Board can take up to a year to vet and approve the issuance of the license.
Haven Gaming will open a temporary casino in Danville, while the main resort is under development. That temporary facility is hoped to be launched a year after the developer obtains its gaming license. The permanent property is anticipated to be completed by 2023.
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