Churchill Downs withdraws bid for Waukegan casino licence
Midwest, a partnership between Rush Street Gaming of Chicago and Churchill Downs, has dropped out of the licence contest.
US.- Churchill Downs has withdrawn its bid for the Waukegan Casino licence in Chicago. It had submitted an application almost two years ago in conjunction with Rush Street Gaming under a partnership named Midwest Gaming.
The move leaves the Illinois Gaming Board with two remaining groups still competing for the Chicago licence. The board must also choose a licensee for the Chicago Southland casino.
A spokesman of Churchill Down said: “We thank the City of Waukegan, Illinois Gaming Board, and others who had reviewed our application and appreciated the opportunity to be considered. We wish the city and remaining bidders well.”
The two remaining Waukegan casino applicants, Las Vegas developer Full House Resorts and Lakeside Casino LLC, a company led by former Grayslake state senator Michael Bond, will make their final public cases for the north suburban licence on October 13.
In May 2019, the state’s General Assembly approved the expansion of the number of casino licences from the current 10. In addition to these two licences, a further four were designated for Chicago, Danville, Rockford and Williamson County.
The news comes after a busy week for Churchill Downs, selling its Arlington Park racetrack in Illinois to the Chicago Bears and announcing plans for a new gaming venue in downtown Louisville, Kentucky.
Four applicants for Chicago Southland licence
The Illinois Gaming Board is expected to narrow the list of contenders down to three at a pitching session to take place on October 13.
The four contenders for Southland are:
- Homewood, which is partnering with East Hazel Crest on a proposed site straddling the border of both communities, with Wind Creek LLC as developer.
- Calumet City, partnering with Delaware North, which proposes to use part of the River Oaks shopping center at Torrence Avenue, east of Interstate 94, for a casino and related development.
- Lynwood and partner Ho-Chunk Nation are proposing a casino east of Illinois 394 and north of the interchange with Glenwood-Dyer Road.
- Matteson, partnering with the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, proposes a casino at the former Lincoln Mall site at US 30 and Cicero Avenue.
See also: Illinois to decide on new casino licences in January
