Rivers Casino Booming at Expense of Neighboring Casinos

By Chuck Sudo in News on Sep 12, 2011 3:30PM

By all accounts Rivers Casino has been a hit since its mid-July opening. The Des Plaines casino generated $34 million in revenue in August, a number that isn't lost on Mayor Emanuel and City Council as they apply heat to Gov. Quinn to allow a Chicago casino.

If Quinn does allow for a Chicago casino, it could lead to a hit in Rivers' profits similar to how the success of Rivers has neighboring casinos in Elgin and Joliet losing business because of its proximity to Chicago.

Grand Victoria Casino in Elgin reported a 24 percent decrease in revenue. Revenues at Harrah's and Hollywood Casino in Joliet also dropped.

Those numbers could decline further if Quinn signs the gaming expansion bill into law and Chicago gets its casino. That bill also calls for a casino in Lake County, the southern suburbs, Rockford and Danville, while adding slot machines at racetracks across the state and both O'Hare and Midway Airports.

That gaming bill has Quinn talking about Illinois becoming the "Las Vegas of the Midwest" and has become a point of contention in the "BFF" relationship between him and Emanuel.