A casino and luxury hotel plan for the East Hazel Crest and Homewood communities in Illinois is moving forward. On Monday night, the board of Homewood Village approved a proposal by Wind Creek Hospitality to create a facility that will include a 64,000 square foot casino and hotel space. The location proposed is off I-80.

Supporting Communities:

The proposed plans by Wind Creek Hospitality would support several communities in the region, not only Homewood and East Hazel. The company is owned by the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, which already has casinos in Nevada, Florida and Alabama.

If approved, the casino is expected to earn around $155 million a year. A percentage of the revenues would go to Homewood and East Hazel Crest as well as 41 additional suburban municipalities in the southern region of the state.

According to NBCchicago.com…

Wind Creek Hospitality vice president of business development, Arthur Mothershed, commented on the plans by stating: “We believe that whenever we come into an area that everybody wins.”

Despite the support from the board, there was some pushback. Some residents in attendance during the last meeting stated their concern over crime that might be created from the casino. Homewood Police Chief William Alcott stated that they are not hiring a new police force due to the casino as other agencies did not see an increase in crime.

Moving Forward:

The East Hazel Crest village officials must now consider the proposal during their meeting on Wednesday. If the board gives their approval, then Wind Creek Hospitality will need to provide an application to the Illinois Gaming Board by October 28th.

The operator already has vast experience in the casino industry, with ten casinos in the US. The group wants the new Illinois facility to include three restaurants and two bars to go along with around 1,300 slot games and 60 table games. The hotel would include 251 guest rooms along with an indoor spa and pool.