Wind Creek Chicago Southland Casino poised to mark crucial milestone ahead of target 2024 opening

Article by : Charles Perrin Nov 17, 2023

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Wind Creek Chicago Southland Casino is making swift progress and it is pacing well to meet its targeted opening in 2024.

To underline the strides the project has made, the building is poised to be topped out before the winter, with the steel framework expected to be put in place and completed in roughly three weeks.

Indeed, this marks a crucial milestone in the construction process. Favorable weather conditions mean that work has been able to continue unaffected and for longer than originally anticipated.

The $300million development which is based in Chicago’s South Suburbs will house a 70,000-square-foot casino, featuring 1,350 slot machines, 56 table games, as well as a sportsbook.

Not only that, but the resort will also have a 16-story, 252-room hotel which will have an indoor pool, a fitness center, spa, and an array of dining options.

After the casino has been enclosed, attention will turn to addressing the interior matters, such as plumbing, electrical, and computer systems.

Wind Creek Chicago Southland Casino’s executive vice president and general manager, Roger Kuehn, refused to pinpoint a precise opening date, but he admitted it has been slated for late summer or early fall in 2024.

He said: “It is still kind of a dart throw, but I would expect sometime in the third quarter of 2024. I think that is a fair timeline.”

The complex will span both East Hazel Crest and Homewood, and it could well be a big moneymaker, as it will contribute to the revenue of 42 south suburban communities.

Towards the end of 2021, Wind Creek was granted the only gaming certificate to operate in South Suburbs, and construction work began in June 2022.

The project is expected to generate around 800 permanent jobs, and a recruitment drive is already underway to fill key positions.

Job fairs will be held roughly two months before the casino’s opening, and there is potential for a second event after that.

Wind Creek, which is a subsidiary of PCI Gaming Authority, oversees 10 casinos for the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, a federally recognized tribe based in Alabama.

Although Wind Creek has made significant strides, there will be no let up over the coming months, and it remains all hands to the pump if the casino is to meet its targeted opening.