Golden Nugget Danville Casino project gets key approval from Illinois Gaming Board

The proposed Golden Nugget casino in Danville, Illinois, has now cleared another hurdle on its road to becoming a reality. The four members of the state's Gaming Board unanimously approved Danville Development LLC and its application as being preliminarily suitable for a casino owners’ license in the capital city of Vermilion County.

Following this approval, construction can now begin on the site. Groundbreaking could occur in the next month, reports Danville Commercial-News, with construction expected to take about 11 months, according to company officials.

“This is a major step in getting this project off the ground,” said Danville Development, LLC president James A Wilmot in a press statement. “We are pleased that the gaming board has recognized this project as viable and that it has met all the essential requirements. We are looking forward to becoming part of the amazing Danville community.”

In its suitability report, the Illinois Gaming Board reviewed a public presentation in which the company was tasked with demonstrating that its casino proposal meets all preliminary requirements and qualifications for licensure.

“The issuance of suitability for the Golden Nugget Danville Casino is momentous for Danville and Vermilion County,” said Danville Mayor Rickey Williams, Jr, according to the cited source. “Golden Nugget and Wilmorite have established world-renowned casinos around the country and we are ecstatic that they are investing in Danville.”

According to the Mayor, the new development is not only set to bring millions of dollars in revenue for the city, but also “hundreds of good-paying jobs,” as well as additional patronage for local businesses, quality entertainment, and restaurants, leading to an improvement of “quality of life” for residents.

Williams also told local media, in a press conference following the IGB approval, that the developers are already contracting with local unions for construction. "They've also committed to 30% minority employment, 15% female employment and 5% veteran employment as well," Mayor Williams added, according to WAND News.

To be located at 204 Eastgate Drive, the proposed Golden Nugget Danville Casino will feature a 41,500 square foot gaming floor with 500 slot machines and 14 table games. It will also feature a steakhouse and a sports bar with wagering options, plus 650 surface parking spaces.

Once open, the venue is expected to create about 300 jobs, and to bring in $5-7 million dollars in revenue per year. The casino will also provide iGaming and online sports betting through Golden Nugget Online’s proprietary platform.

Danville Mayor Rickey Williams, Jr.

Danville’s Mayor further said Golden Nugget planned to give back with a $100,000 donation each year to the United Way, plus another $50,000 donation yearly to the police and fire departments, non-profit Vermilion Advantage and local community college scholarships.

"Being right on the border of Indiana, it's going to bring a lot of people in from Indianapolis,” Tim Dudley, CEO of Vermilion Advantage told WAND. “We're only an hour drive from Indianapolis. You're going to have a lot of people coming into your town, versus going out of your town.”

The IGB is still acting on final casino licensure, a process which began in 2019 after a gaming expansion bill called for six new casino permits in the state. Golden Nugget LLC entered an agreement in November 2020 with Wilmot Gaming Illinois LLC for the Danville casino.

New York-based Wilmorite Construction, which secured Golden Nugget branding for the venue, is the proposed casino developer, reports Commercial-News. Danville Development is a joint venture between Wilmot Gaming Illinois and Golden Nugget subsidiary GN Danville.