Wind Creek Illinois Presents Plans for Four-diamond Casino Destination in the South Suburbs to Illinois Gaming Board

Wind Creek Illinois LLC, a subsidiary of PCI Gaming Authority operating under the brand name Wind Creek Hospitality, today presented its proposed casino development to the Illinois Gaming Board. The presentation introduced a respected, experienced and fiscally-stable operator with a commitment to diversity and inclusion – and a development that promises to be the best in and for the south suburbs.

“Wind Creek Hospitality will not just build a casino, but truly create a community in the south suburbs – with job creation, community investment and sustained operational excellence, and we were enthused to share that with the Illinois Gaming Board in our presentation today,” said Jay Dorris, president and CEO, PCI Gaming Authority. “We are confident that Wind Creek is the best partner in and for the south suburbs. Our proposed Four-Diamond facility will bring a first-class entertainment destination to the Southland region and maximize profits to generate the most revenue for the state.”

Wind Creek Hospitality, an authority of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, manages 10 premier State and Tribal gaming properties with best-in-class amenities in Alabama, Florida, Nevada, Pennsylvania and the Caribbean. The proposed development would be located in Homewood and East Hazel Crest, IL

Best Location In and for The South Suburbs

Wind Creek’s proposed development, located directly off of I-80 near Halsted Street and 175th Street, offers the best location out of any of the south suburban applicants – the site sees nearly four times the average daily traffic of any other applicant, nearly 80 million vehicles pass by the proposed site adjacent to I-80 each year. Its proximity to the Indiana border, less than a 10-minute drive away, has the potential to draw significant visitors from Northwest Indiana.

The location is in the heart of the Southland, where jobs and opportunities are most needed, with convenient public transportation to make sure those opportunities are available to all south suburban residents as the statute envisioned. More importantly, it is the best location for the south suburbs —garnering the most tax dollars for the state and the 41 communities in the five south suburban townships.

These projections are verified by two independent market studies conducted by Wind Creek – one, in the summer of 2019 by The Innovation Group, and another in November 2020 by Global Market Advisors. Both reports affirm that the Wind Creek location will generate the most revenue for the south suburban region in comparison to its competitors for the casino license. In addition, an economic impact analysis conducted by Professor Anthony Andrews at Governors State University this past summer confirms that Wind Creek will provide the greatest economic impact to the Southland communities.

Four-Diamond Casino Destination – The First in Illinois or Northern Indiana

Known for hospitality and exceptional guest service, Wind Creek’s development would be the first AAA Four-Diamond casino destination in Illinois or Northern Indiana. It would include:

  • Nearly 70,000-square-foot casino floor with more than 1,350 slot machines and 56 table games, opportunity to grow
  • A 15,800-square-foot entertainment center, customized both in design and the featured performers it will draw to address the interests and needs of the region
  • A 35,000-square-foot conference and banquet facility that will provide much-needed meeting space in the south suburbs
  • Three restaurants, two bars and a skyline lounge
  • A 252-room luxury hotel with indoor pool and spa
  • Secure, climate-protected parking directly connected to the casino floor
  • A partnership with the nearby Ravisloe Country Club, offering golf as an amenity for guests

See more of the proposed casino in a video here.

Community Benefits

The casino itself is projected to create the equivalent of at least 800 full-time jobs when fully operational – careers ranging from maintenance and casino-floor positions to hospitality and management roles. In addition, it will create approximately 600 temporary jobs during construction. The project’s contracting team, a joint venture between W.E. O’Neil Construction and MBE-certified Bowa Construction, has a goal to award more than 30 percent of the annual dollar value of all contracts, purchase orders, or other agreements to minority-, women-, veteran- or LGBTQ-owned businesses.

In each community where it operates, Wind Creek has a proven track record of being a good neighbor and giving back, setting aside funds annually for charities in the areas they serve through donations, charitable contributions, sponsorships, and mutual aid agreements, totaling more than $85 million in community support.

This commitment to community will continue in Illinois with the creation of the Southland Public Benefit Fund. Wind Creek, East Hazel Crest and Homewood will contribute to the Fund – with $10,000,000 coming from Wind Creek alone. The Fund will distribute $150,000 per year for the first five years of operation to provide scholarships for disadvantaged students and health services for the south suburban region through partnerships with South Suburban College, Prairie State College, and Moraine Valley Community College, the Ingalls Development Foundation and Advocate South Suburban hospital. Once the Fund corpus reaches $20 million, the Fund will distribute $1,000,000 annually.

“Over the past six years, we’ve been lucky enough to meet and talk to so many leaders and residents of the south suburbs – and know how long they’ve been waiting for this facility, the high expectations they have for community involvement,” said Dorris. “We look forward to hearing next steps from the Illinois Gaming Board, and hopefully partnering with the Southland to see this dream realized.”

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About Wind Creek Hospitality: Wind Creek Hospitality is an authority of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians. Wind Creek Hospitality manages the Tribe’s gaming facilities including: Wind Creek Atmore, Wind Creek Wetumpka, Wind Creek Montgomery, Wind Creek Bethlehem, Wa She Shu Casino in Nevada, Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino, Renaissance Curacao Resort & Casino as well as racetracks in Alabama and Florida. The Poarch Band of Creek Indians is the only federally recognized Indian Tribe in the state of Alabama, operating as a sovereign nation with its own system of government and bylaws. The Tribe operates a variety of economic enterprises, which employ thousands of area residents. For more information, visit: www.WindCreek.com.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Katelyn Yoshimoto for Wind Creek Illinois
Phone: 251.359.3303 (mobile)
Email: katelyn_yoshimoto@jtpr.com
Julia Corwin for Wind Creek Hospitality
Phone: 484-777-7911
Email: julia.corwin@windcreek.com

Wind Creek Hospitality