Rockford’s Hard Rock Casino gets final licence approval
The Illinois Gaming Board voted 4-0 to grant a licence to Hard Rock Casino Rockford.
US.- Hard Rock’s Rockford casino project took another step forward last week as the Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) approved the final licence for the permanent site. Hard Rock expects to break ground this spring. The permanent venue will replace Hard Rock International’s temporary casino in Rockford.
Illinois’ state gaming board voted 4 to 1 to license the permanent casino. The licence gives the operator two years to complete the construction of the new property. The casino will be built on the site of the former Clock Tower Resort, at 7801 E. State Street at the I-90 exit ramp.
Jim Allen, chairman of Hard Rock International, said that the $310m casino project would provide 1,200 permanent jobs and an additional 1,000 during construction.
Geno Iafrate, president of Hard Rock Casino Rockford, said: “Today’s approval was yet another milestone toward the fulfilment of Rockford’s long-awaited casino dream. A project of this scale is a complex process with many stakeholders. We have and will continue to work openly and closely with the IGB and all regulatory bodies to ensure that the new, permanent Hard Rock Casino meets and exceeds all requirements and expectations.”
With no table games and more than 625 slots machines and electronic table games, Rockford’s temporary casino generated $8.46m in revenue during November and December. In just its first 22 days of operation, the temporary casino had picked up revenue of $4,14m. According to IGB documents, the temporary casino must pay slightly more than $1m in state taxes and $504,000 in local taxes.
According to the IGB, Hard Rock cannot commence construction on or begin gaming at the proposed facility without first submitting the required disclosures and receiving the appropriate IGB approval.
