Two didn't squander chances at casino; Cal City, Lynwood flubs lost jackpot?
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Well, we didn’t get it. A casino.
Cal City isn’t going to get the casino license targeted for the south suburbs. Neither will Lynwood. That leaves Homewood and Matteson to be the eventual awardee.
In June of 2019 the state authorized an expansion of casino licenses to include one in the Southland of Cook County. Calumet City had a solid entry presented to the Illinois Gaming Commission which has the power to select who will get that license.
The site in Cal City would have been where the former River Oaks Theatre complex was. Those were torn down in anticipation of Cal City winning the casino license lottery.
Extensive plans were made with renderings drawn for a casino and hotel complex. The former Carson’s building would be prepped so that temporary gambling could start fairly soon as the complex was being built. It was no small-time plan with big-time financial backing.
The decision as to who would get the license was delayed for a year, more really, because of the pandemic. The public is not privy to the discussions that led to the decision, nor does the commission make its reasons known.
In general, the commission looks to see that municipalities, government and populace, are on board with having a casino in their town.
It is thought that opposition to a casino in Lynwood by former councilperson and present mayor, Jada Curry, was a factor in Lynwood being eliminated from consideration.
