As Homewood officials tout the village’s growth, some small business owners are hopeful the recent opening of the Wind Creek Chicago Southland hotel will attract more customers to neighboring establishments.
Since the casino opened Nov. 11, more than 855,000 people have visited, general manager Roger Kuehn told Homewood business owners at an economic development breakfast Thursday.
Wind Creek has quickly established itself as a major player among the state’s 16 casinos, ranking second in both gaming revenue and admissions, Kuehn said. Since opening, the casino has contributed millions in gaming tax dollars to the state and local communities.
The casino has paid $12.3 million in gaming taxes, with about $9.05 million going to the state and $3.25 million to the villages, Kuehn said.
