Illinois Gaming Board green lights temporary Rockford casino
$5,000 Welcome Bonus
ROCKFORD — Illinois Gaming Board officials have approved 815 Entertainment LLC's request to begin construction of a temporary Rockford casino.
Construction of the temporary casino could begin in a matter of days at the former location of Giovanni's Restaurant and Convention Center, 610 N. Bell School Road.
"Based on a review of the materials applicant submitted in support of this request along with your representations, and pursuant to the authority delegated to me under the June 11, 2020, Board Resolution … request is hereby approved," Gaming Board Administrator Marcus Fruchter wrote in an approval letter obtained by the Rockford Register Star. "Applicant may now commence construction at the temporary casino facility."
Construction is expected to last about three months. Before it can open however, the casino still must obtain the Gaming Board's permission to operate and receive approval of the casino's security and surveillance setup.
The 37,790-square-foot restaurant and banquet hall will be transformed into a temporary casino location. Plans are for the location to undergo an estimated $8.8 million renovation. It is expected to feature 736 slot machines, maintain two restaurants and could possibly include a "Rock Shop."
Mayor Tom McNamara said this is a proud day for Rockford, which is the first of the six new casino locations approved by a 2019 state gambling expansion to begin construction.
"This is a huge accomplishment for our community, and it will bring hundreds of construction jobs to Rockford,” McNamara said in a written statement.
The temporary casino could operate for two years while the permanent, $311 million Hard Rock Casino Rockford is under construction. That project must still obtain further permission before construction can begin at the entrance to Interstate 90 and East State Street at the former location of the Clock Tower Resort.
State Sen. Dave Syverson said he has championed a casino in Rockford for 20 years and worked with four mayors, four governors and numerous legislators in an effort to make it a reality.
Syverson said 815 Entertainment LLC has made smart moves from the start that have put its proposal in a position to succeed, partnering with Hard Rock International to operate the casinos and Ringland-Johnson Construction to build them. Syverson also gives them credit for having agreements worked out with local governments and labor unions allowing them to "hit the ground running."
"While I would have loved to have the project completed years ago, in the end, the final project turned out to be even better than we had ever hopped for when we started," Syverson said in an email to the Register Star. "The Hard Rock brand is the most sought after brand in the world and we now have that in Rockford."
Jeff Kolkey: jkolkey@rrstar.com; @jeffkolkey
