Two finalists for Chicago Southland casino license make final pitches

The Illinois Gaming Board is now set to choose where to locate a south suburban Cook County casino license, a decision expected early next year. On Thursday, representatives from the two finalist casino companies and their host communities —Homewood-East Hazel Crest and Matteson— made their final pitches to the state gaming regulators.

The Homewood-East Hazel Crest proposal would see the development of the $440 million Wind Creek Illinois casino and hotel, to be located south of Interstate 80-294 at Halsted Street. Wind Creek Hospitality, a business enterprise of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, claims it would generate high revenue for the state and local communities, and attract more guests than Matteson.

According to Chief Operating Officer for Wind Creek Hospitality Brent Pinkston, multiple independent studies show an easily accessible casino adjacent to the Tri-State Tollway will produce between $130 million and $140 million in additional state tax revenue over 20 years compared to the Matteson site, reports The Times of Northwest Indiana.

"It presents the opportunity for getting some of those Indiana tax dollars," Pinkston said. While Wind Creek officials said they are committed to hiring minority and women-owned firms to construct the casino and pledged to hire a diverse workforce, most of the emphasis was put on the location, which includes extra space to add a second hotel tower and additional gaming positions should the demand warrant it.

On the other hand, Matteson leaders, South Suburban Development LLC and the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma focused their presentation on how their proposed casino would benefit residents, in particular minorities, women and military veterans.

The project, set to redevelop the Lincoln Mall site at U.S. 30 and Interstate 57, would be a $300 million complex, featuring a 123,000-square foot casino, a 200-room hotel, and a convention center. Tentative agreements for women and minority vendors to operate the food hall inside the casino have already been inked, as well as to develop adjacent entertainment venues.

"These venues will ensure Matteson will offer much more than just a casino," said Rob Miller, a veteran and managing member of South Suburban Development LLC, according to NWI Times. "We'll provide an entertainment district that will benefit the entire south suburban region." The venues include a movie theater, bowling alley, golf simulator and all-terrain vehicle track.

Matteson residents have the financial resources to support a casino and the village has pledged to give up half of its gaming tax receipts for the first 20 years to fund expanded health care access throughout the south suburbs, Matteson Village President Sheila Chalmers-Currin announced.

"I'm glad we have a difficult decision to make," said Illinois Gaming Board Chairman Charles Schmadeke. Last Wednesday, regulators opted to advance these two pitches while rejecting applications from Calumet and Lynwood, in a 4-0 voting.