Full House Resorts, based in Las Vegas, continues to experience impressive growth thanks to its American Place casino in Waukegan, Illinois. This temporary facility, which has been operational since February 2023, has not only exceeded revenue expectations but has also paved the way for a more lucrative future with a permanent resort and casino in the works. In March 2025, American Place reached a significant milestone, bringing in nearly $10.9 million in revenue. This achievement contributes greatly to Full House’s overall success and bolsters the company’s expansion efforts as it approaches the planned opening of the permanent property in summer 2027.

Promising start for Full House Resorts:

Full House Resorts reported a 7.3% year-over-year increase in revenue, reaching $75.1 million for the first quarter of 2025. This growth is largely attributed to the performance of American Place. The success of the temporary casino, which continues to attract customers from the northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin regions, has encouraged Full House to refine its plans for the permanent resort and casino. The company’s president and CEO, Daniel R. Lee, emphasized in a press release that American Place’s momentum will play a pivotal role in the company’s future.

“American Place has made meaningful strides in 2025, and we believe our permanent casino, with its luxurious amenities, will fill a long-standing gap in Chicago’s northern suburbs for premium gaming and entertainment,” Lee said. This temporary success is expected to further elevate Full House Resorts’ position as the permanent casino prepares to welcome visitors.

As Full House officials gather insights from the ongoing operations at the temporary facility, they are carefully refining the plans for the final resort. Aiming to open in 2027, the permanent American Place casino will feature a wide variety of entertainment options, including 1,640 slot machines, 100 table games, four restaurants, and a 1,500-seat venue for performances. A luxury hotel with 20 suites will also be part of the project, ensuring that visitors have a full-service experience at the resort.

Full House’s senior vice president, Alex Stolyar, noted that while the company is not anticipating drastic changes to the existing plans, minor adjustments to the gaming floor are expected based on customer preferences observed in the temporary casino. “We’ve learned a great deal from operating the temporary facility, and we’re moving forward with our plans for a grand opening in August 2027,” Stolyar remarked, as reported by the Chicago Tribune.

Staff and customer experience: key to success:

A critical factor behind American Place’s success has been its exceptional customer service. Vice President and General Manager Jeff Babinski has praised the staff’s dedication, citing their role in cultivating an outstanding customer experience. “When the staff treats people well, they will come back,” Babinski explained. This high level of service has earned American Place accolades, including recognition as a top workplace both locally and nationally. In fact, it is the only casino in the Chicago area to have been honored by the Chicago Tribune and USA Today as a top workplace.

American Place’s net gaming revenue has shown consistent growth since the temporary casino’s opening, with March 2025 marking a peak of $10.98 million. This has been an encouraging sign for Babinski and his team, as the company sets its sights on continuing this upward trend. In April 2025, the casino reported a slight dip to $9.9 million, but Babinski remains confident that the $10 million mark will be exceeded on a regular basis.

Looking ahead, Full House Resorts is working diligently on securing the necessary permits to move forward with the permanent facility’s construction. The Waukegan City Council will review the company’s conditional use permit request this summer, with Full House officials optimistic about receiving approval. Although Full House encountered legal challenges in the past, including a lawsuit from the Waukegan Potawatomi Casino over the casino license awarded by the Illinois Gaming Board, the situation was resolved when the Illinois Supreme Court ruled in Full House’s favor in January 2024.