Casino News

Illinois casino license goes to Midwest Gaming

2008-12-23 14:29:22

Midwest Gaming has been awarded the new Illinois casino license and can now proceed to move ahead with its plans to build a gaming boat in Des Plaines, it has been reported.

According to the Associated Press (AP), three members of the Illinois Gaming Board's four-man panel voted in favour of Midwest, with one by abstaining claiming that none of the bids were acceptable.

The other companies that were bidding for the license were Waukegan Gaming and Trilliant Gaming.

Trilliant had placed a bigger bid than Midwest but came unstuck because it planned to build in Rosemont, an area "tainted by reputation" in the opinion of board member Charles Gardner.

Neil Bluhm, chairmen of Midwest, promised his company would create "a fantastic facility" for the people of Illinois.

In other US casino news, Wynn Resorts' new $2.3 billion Encore venue opened this week in Las Vegas.

The AP reported that owner Steve Wynn expects the casino to do good opening business, despite the economic downturn.