Casino Coming To Danville Illinois

After its initial casino proposal with Haven Gaming fell through, the City of Danville has a new casino operating partner, with a much different plan for the casino site.

• Casino Coming To Danville Illinois Restaurants
• Casino Coming To Danville Illinois Obituaries
• Casino Coming To Danville Illinois

In plans submitted to the Illinois Gaming Board, casinos must explain how they will ensure that. Coming up with a combination of 1 and 2. Six new casinos, along with legalized sports betting, are coming to Illinois after Senate lawmakers approved a massive gambling expansion bill Sunday. Pritzker has already announced his.

Alderman voted 12-0 Tuesday night to enter into an agreement with Wilmorite Construction to design the second version of the new casino.

Company President Jimmy Wilmot said the new casino is proposed to be built at 204 Eastgate Drive, which is the site of a former Thyssenkrupp warehouse. The new casino would be built in three phases, with plans for 500 slot machines and 10 gaming tables in the first phase, along with four dining venues and a steakhouse. The second phase would be built 24 months after the initial casino opened, with the third phase 24 months after that. A hotel and an expanded site would be planned for the final phase. An access road would connect the new casino to Lynch Road.

Per the plans of the developers, the second and third phases would need to include land closer to Interstate 74, but Mayor Rickey Williams Jr. says Wilmorite does not have expansion site picked out yet.

Casino Coming To Danville Illinois Restaurants

Wilmot said the casino would bring 600 permanent jobs to the Danville area.

The company will pay upfront amounts totaling $3 million to nonprofits and other projects in Danville, with $1 million each to the Riverfront Development Project, Boys and Girls Club and for municipal improvements.

A total of $300,000 will be paid annually to entities in Danville. Mayor Williams says this will break down as follows:

• $100,000 to United Way
• $50,000 to Fischer Theatre
• $50,000 to Danville Area Community College
• $50,000 to Vermilion Advantage
• $25,000 to Danville Fire Department
• $25,000 to Danville Police Department

Company officials explained that the smaller site was chosen because investors are budgeting $100 million for the first phase of construction, and Wilmot says more can be built by renovating a site.

Casino Coming To Danville Illinois Obituaries

'We can build 500 slots, 10 tables, 42,000 square feet, a food court, a steakhouse as well as 10 table games,' he said.

Wilmot also said the smaller site would allow for a faster construction schedule, with the site being level and most utilities already on-site other than a sewer project, which would reduce costs.

Tinisha Shade-Spain, the interim president of Vermilion Advantage, said the new casino could bring more restaurants to Lynch Road—something that the area does not have.

'Even though we've got 3,000 people that work out in that corridor and 25,000 to 30,000 people a day that come by on (Interstate) 74, it's the rooftops that they're after,' she explained. 'I think if we get this development out there, it will definitely change their minds.'

Wilmot said the company projects to spend $30 million before even the first phase of construction begins, and he said $100 million is expected to be spent on the first part of the casino—if it is approved.

Alderman Mike Puhr said he liked the fact that the company was on solid footing in its bid proposal, versus multiple changes in the previous company (Haven Gaming) that the city went through before. Even so, Alderman R.J. Davis, who left the meeting before the vote was cast, expressed concern about the company paying what it is supposed to.

'I get sick and tired of organizations coming, that want to come and bring money to this town,' Davis said. 'We need money. All cities need money. But at least stick to your word.'

Wilmot said the company is committed to hiring 40 percent women, 30 percent minorities and five percent veterans to work at the proposed casino.

He said Wilmorite plans to submit its application to the Illinois Gaming Board as soon as possible. Mayor Rickey Williams Jr. said the casino proposal will first go before the Planning and Zoning Commission on Thursday, September 3^rd, then to the city council later that month.

Wilmot said construction would likely begin sometime next year, after he said the gaming board would likely approve it sometime next spring in his estimation.

Wilmorite Construction has helped construct casinos in California and Oklahoma as well as several shopping malls throughout the country. The company is headquartered in Rochester, New York.

The operators of the proposed new casino in Danville have entered into an agreement with a nationally recognized casino brand.

Golden Nugget Online Gaming, Inc. has secured a joint agreement with Danville Development, LLC for market access into Illinois through the proposed Danville casino for online sports waging. Under the agreement, the new casino would bear the name 'Golden Nugget' after the other, well-known Las Vegas casino. The Golden Nugget Danville will also feature a Landry's Steakhouse.

Mayor Rickey Williams Jr. tells Vermilion County First News that the announcement is 'phenomenal news' for Danville.

'This is phenomenal for Danville and Vermilion County,' he says. 'To have a, not nationally known, but internationally known company partnering with the Wilmots to bring us a first-class casino is just phenomenal news.'

Under the agreement, Golden Nugget holds the exclusive right to offer online sports wagering and, if permitted by law in the future, online casino wagering. In addition, the firm has committed to provide a mezzanine loan in the amount of $30 million to Danville Development for the development and construction of the casino. The market access agreement is for a term of 20 years and requires Golden Nugget to pay Danville Development a percentage of its online net gaming revenue, subject to minimum royalty payments over the term.

Williams says the casino application will be submitted to the Illinois Gaming Board today. He adds that the steakhouse would be able to draw in customers who don't want to gamble.

'Having a fantastic steakhouse like that here in town will be great for everyone,' he explains. 'I imagine lots of people, even if they don't gamble, will go there to eat on a regular basis.'

Casino Coming To Danville Illinois

The Illinois Gaming Board has delayed its casino approval process due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and it could take until May or June for a casino license to be approved by the board. Tinisha Spain, the interim president of Vermilion Advantage, says it's a great thing to know what to look forward to.

'Even coming on the heels of the announcement that there would be a delay, it's great that they're still making there partnerships in the background, so that when we do get the final word, we'll be ready to move,' Spain says.

The Danville casino will join other Golden Nugget casinos around the country, including Las Vegas and Atlantic City.