Temporary Waukegan casino starting to take shape; fall opening now projected
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A white membrane structure — supported by aluminum beams 12-feet apart — on 40 acres adjacent to the Fountain Square shopping center in Waukegan will more than triple in size before it becomes the temporary casino for American Place in the fall.
Construction began on The Temporary by American Place in early June with a planned opening in October or November as it progresses toward becoming a 70,000-square foot interim casino providing table games, slot machines and a sportsbook before the permanent resort opens in three years.
While construction workers continue to erect the temporary building, American Place owner Full House Resorts held hiring events at its Waukegan offices Wednesday and Thursday as it works to hire people before the temporary gaming facility opens.
When Full House received its finding of preliminary suitability from the Illinois Gaming Board in December, company senior vice president and chief development officer Alex Stolyar anticipated the temporary casino would be open in June.
A variety of factors caused the change in the projected opening to October or November when the company began working through the approval process with the city of Waukegan and continuing it with the gaming board
“The June date was a very preliminary estimate,” Stolyar said. “In reality, as we began the process and worked through all our local and IGB approvals, we realized that summer opening would not be achievable.”
As of Monday, 12 the temporary casino’s sections were in place with 29 still to be erected before the 500-foot long, 70,000-square-foot structure is complete. Once it is up, Stolyar estimates the interior will be finished in three to four months.
“It will depend on how many rain delays we have and getting everything we need,” he said. “We have supply chain issues like everyone else. We’re getting all the approvals and support we need.”
As construction continues, Stolyar said Full House is continuing to hire people. When the temporary casino opens, between 400 and 500 people will be working there operating the 50 table games, 1,000 slot machines, the sportsbook, as well as the food and beverage service.
Beside the hiring events in Waukegan Wednesday and Thursday, he said people can apply for the jobs on the company website. There are more than 50 positions listed, including dealers, slot technicians, security personnel and people to prepare and serve both food and drinks.
“We’ll be making offers,” Stolyar said. “If the people will be leaving another job to work for us we will give then a lengthy notice of the starting date so they can make their necessary plans. It will be before opening day. We’ll have training time so they’ll start several weeks before.”
Though the initial casino will be temporary while the permanent resort is built, he said he anticipates the initial workers there when the interim facility opens its doors will be long term employees. The resort is expected to provide 1,800 permanent jobs.
“We’re not hiring them to be temporary workers,” Stolyar said. “We expect them to be permanent.”
Not all the jobs are gaming or food service related. There are management opportunities as well as positions in customer service, human resources and finance, according to the company website.
