Location: Illinois
Bidder for Chicago’s last track expected to end horse racing
Hawthorne Race Course has reached a preliminary agreement to sell the track for $90 million to a company that’s expected to close down the... more
Bally’s raises eyebrows by hiring ex-Chicago mayor’s law firm to challenge VGTs
Bally’s has hired former Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s law firm to help potentially sue Chicago for violating the casino host agreement that she... more
Analysts praise new Hollywood Aurora
Wall Street gaming analysts descended on the June 24 debut of the new, $360 million Hollywood Aurora casino in Illinois. The Penn... more
EDITORIAL: Chicago made a deal with Bally’s casino. It did not include video gaming terminals in bars.
Some five years ago, Chicago entered into a so-called Host Community Agreement (HCA) with the gaming company Bally’s, the city’s choice as... more
In contentious video-gambling debate, Bally’s offers to install slot machines at Chicago airports
Bally’s offered Wednesday to move quickly to install lounges filled with slot machines at O’Hare and Midway airports and “substitute” that... more
‘An entirely new experience’: Hollywood Casino Aurora opens $360M land-based complex
The Hollywood Casino Aurora threw open the doors Wednesday to a new, bigger home. “This isn’t just a new building. It is an entirely new... more
Illinois: New Hollywood Casino Aurora ready to open to the public Wednesday
The wait is nearly over for those looking to visit the new Hollywood Casino Aurora. The new casino and hotel along Farnsworth Avenue and... more
Illinois: $5K reward offered for information on alleged casino robber
The FBI is asking the public for helping in finding and arresting a man accused of robbing a central Missouri bank earlier this year and is... more
Chicago-area chefs take starring roles at Penn’s new casino, opening this week
The band is back together, and that should be sweet music to diners’ ears. Chefs who made a name for themselves in the Chicago area have... more
Chicago suburb to study gambling machines, but trustees voice concerns
In 2025, Prospect Heights collected more than $390,00. Morton Grove reaped more than $442,000. Wheeling secured more than $679,000, and... more
