Latest news with #HollywoodCasino
CBS News
a day ago
- Entertainment
- CBS News
New Hollywood Casino opens in Joliet on Monday
The Hollywood Casino opens in Joliet on Monday. The new $185 million land-based property features about a thousand slots, 43 live table games, an ESPN bet sportsbook, and more. It's located on Olympic and Gateway Boulevards. There will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony with a curtain-drop reveal and a national anthem performance during the grand opening ceremony. Doors open to the public at 4 p.m. The riverboat gaming location in Joliet closed its doors at the end of July.
CBS News
22-07-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Aurora, Illinois, considers doubling hotel tax
The Aurora City Council will consider doubling the west suburb's hotel occupancy tax at their meeting Tuesday. The current Illinois hotel occupancy tax is 3%. The ordinance Aurora is considering would double that rate to 6% and add a $10 daily fee on rooms. The proposal says the current rate is "at the lower end of the spectrum" compared to their surrounding suburbs, and said doubling the rate would bring in a little more than $3 million a year in tax revenue. The new Hollywood Casino is set to bring another 220 hotel rooms to Aurora. If approved, the new rate would go into effect on Jan. 1, 2026.
Scottish Sun
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Iconic 70s band leaves fans furious by canceling ENTIRE 2025 tour weeks before it starts saying ‘blame it on weather'
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A LEGENDARY rock group has canceled their entire 2025 tour 'because of the weather'. The band, which has existed since 1966, have released a statement explaining that they were 'trusting their instincts' by not going forward with the 31-date tour, which was set to start in Bethel, New York on August 15th. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 4 Steve Miller band has cancelled their entire 2025 tour Credit: Getty 4 The band said the extreme weather is behind the reason for the cancelation Credit: Getty The Steve Miller Band – led by the titular star and completed by bass player Kenny Lewis, Joseph Wooton on keyboards and backing vocals, guitarist Jacob Peterson and drummer Ron Wikso – posted the photographed statement on all their social media and their website on Wednesday afternoon. The message read: 'Dear Steve Miller Band fans, You make music with your instincts, You live your life by your instincts. Always trust your instincts. 'The Steve Miller Band has cancelled all of our upcoming tour dates. 'The combination of extreme heat, unpredictable flooding, tornadoes, hurricanes and massive forest fires make these risks for you, our audience, the band and the crew unacceptable. 'So… You can blame it on the tour is cancelled.' 'Don't know where, don't know when… We hope to see you all again,' the message concluded. 'Wishing you all Peace, Love and Happiness, Please take care of each other.' But fans weren't pleased with their reasoning, with one writing: 'Are you serious? I'm a big fan and got tickets for this tour , but next time please find a [better] excuse.' While another paraphrased their song, Abracadabra, to them, declaring: 'Abracadabra. My lame excuse will reach out and grab you.' 'Really weak. All this stuff going on all the more reason people need an escape for a few hours,' said a third. Steve Miller Band: Canceled 2025 Tour Dates Here are the dates that are no longer going ahead August 15th: Bethel, NY, Bethel Woods Center for the Arts Bethel, NY, Bethel Woods Center for the Arts August 16th: Grantville, PA, Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course Grantville, PA, Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course August 19th: Gilford, NH, Bank NH Pavilion Gilford, NH, Bank NH Pavilion August 22nd: Atlantic City, NJ, Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena Atlantic City, NJ, Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena August 24th: Wantagh, NY, Northwell at Jones Beach Theater Wantagh, NY, Northwell at Jones Beach Theater August 26th: Holmdel, NJ, PNC Bank Arts Center Holmdel, NJ, PNC Bank Arts Center August 28th: Saint Paul, MN, Minnesota State Fair Saint Paul, MN, Minnesota State Fair August 30th: Salamanca, NY, Seneca Allegany Resort & Casino Outdoor Venue Salamanca, NY, Seneca Allegany Resort & Casino Outdoor Venue August 31st: Ledyard, CT, Premier Theater at Foxwoods Resort Casino Ledyard, CT, Premier Theater at Foxwoods Resort Casino September 17th: Lincoln, NE, Pinewood Bowl Theater Lincoln, NE, Pinewood Bowl Theater September 19th: Memphis, TN, Radians Amphitheater Memphis, TN, Radians Amphitheater September 20th: Camdenton, MO, Ozarks Amphitheater Camdenton, MO, Ozarks Amphitheater September 23rd: Gautier, MS, The Sound Amphitheater Gautier, MS, The Sound Amphitheater September 25th: Huntsville, AL, Orion Amphitheater Huntsville, AL, Orion Amphitheater September 26th: Champaign, IL, State Farm Center Champaign, IL, State Farm Center September 27th: Gary, IN, Hard Rock Live Northern Indiana Gary, IN, Hard Rock Live Northern Indiana October 1st: Tuscaloosa, AL, Mercedes-Benz Amphitheater Tuscaloosa, AL, Mercedes-Benz Amphitheater October 4th: Estero, FL, Hertz Arena Estero, FL, Hertz Arena October 5th: Hollywood, FL, Hard Rock Live Hollywood, FL, Hard Rock Live October 7th: Tampa, FL, Seminole Hard Rock Tampa Event Center Tampa, FL, Seminole Hard Rock Tampa Event Center October 23rd: Scottsdale, AZ, The Pool at Talking Stick Resort Scottsdale, AZ, The Pool at Talking Stick Resort October 25th: Las Vegas, NV, PH Live at Planet Hollywood Las Vegas, NV, PH Live at Planet Hollywood October 28th: Highland, CA, Yaamava Resort & Casino at San Manuel Highland, CA, Yaamava Resort & Casino at San Manuel October 30th: Saratoga, CA, Mountain Winery Saratoga, CA, Mountain Winery November 1st: Sparks, NV, Nugget Event Center Sparks, NV, Nugget Event Center November 4th: San Diego, CA, The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park San Diego, CA, The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park November 6th: Inglewood, CA, YouTube Theater Inglewood, CA, YouTube Theater November 8th: Anaheim, CA, Honda Center There are currently no details available on how and when ticketholders will be able to receive refunds. While another claimed the real reason was poor ticket sales, sharing an alleged grab from the proposed date Northwell at Jones Beach Theater on August 24th showing large sections of the ampitheater going unsold. 'This really doesn't make sense. There is no imminent danger. Play indoors?' said another. 'Venues should just boycott this band and not book them in the future given this lame excuse!,' noted a sixth fan. While a seventh said:'Say goodbye to any future tour venues due to this lame, woke excuse. But then, this was probably the plan all along…wasn't it?' The band was set to perform through to November 8th, with their tour ending in Anaheim, California. 4 Steve Miller is the sole remaining original member of the group Credit: Getty
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Pennsylvania men lost hundreds of thousands gambling on DraftKings. Now they're suing.
Five Pennsylvania men are trying to launch a class action lawsuit against DraftKings, the online sports betting behemoth that they say used predatory tactics and deceptive marketing to fuel their gambling addictions. The federal lawsuit claims that, instead of trying to help people in the throes of compulsive gambling, DraftKings targets and exploits these individuals. The company also extends promotional deals that offer "no sweat" bets or deposit matches, while hiding convoluted conditions in the fine print, according to the lawsuit. More: Pennsylvania gaming revenues hit record high in 2024 for one main reason DraftKings 'uses these tactics to identify and cultivate the people it wants on its platform: those who are most susceptible to these sorts of promotions and most likely to lose a lot of money betting,' the complaint filed in late April contends. 'In other words, marks.' The suit notes that online sportsbooks such as DraftKings have exploded in popularity since the U.S. Supreme Court's 2018 decision opening the door to this betting. DraftKings is Pennsylvania's second-highest grossing sports betting platform through a partnership with Hollywood Casino at the Meadows, according to state data. It also owns an online casino. More: As sports betting skyrockets, more Americans search for addiction help, study finds DraftKings as of May 20 had not filed a court response to the complaint, and its spokespeople did not immediately answer a request for comment. One of the plaintiffs, a Pittsburgh teacher who earned about $50,000 a year, borrowed money from his loved ones to keep gambling after he'd drained his own bank account. In total, he lost $134,000 on DraftKings, the lawsuit states. After recognizing his gambling had become a problem, an Allentown man asked DraftKings to shut down his account permanently. Instead, the man was able to access it again and lost more than $350,000 on DraftKings as a result, the suit alleges. The lawsuit said this man's 'life was ruined gambling on DraftKings,' reporting that he'd lost friends and a job and suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety. Another plaintiff continued to gamble on the app even after adding himself to a state self-exclusion list, which should have locked him out of gaming sites, according to the complaint. A Chicago-based civil rights law firm filed the lawsuit on behalf of the five men. The office, Loevy + Loevy, has also sued DraftKings in Illinois, Kentucky, New Jersey and New York. More: Inside the high-stakes, high-risk world of sports betting and how it's gripping young men If you or someone you know is struggling with gambling, call or text 1-800-GAMBLER, operated by the National Council on Problem Gambling. Bethany Rodgers is a USA TODAY Network Pennsylvania investigative journalist. This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: PA men sue DraftKings, alleging deceptive promotions
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New Aurora mayor warns residents that property tax hike likely: 'They know we're in trouble'
The Brief Mayor John Laesch says Aurora faces a fiscal crisis after years of tax giveaways and rising costs. The city must borrow $88 million, and a property tax hike is likely on the table. Laesch promises transparency and says residents are prepared for tough choices. AURORA, Ill. - Aurora's new mayor isn't sugarcoating the financial state of the city—and says a property tax increase may be unavoidable. What we know It isn't often that a mayor enters office telling residents he's going to have to raise their property taxes. But that's the situation John Laesch says he's inherited in Aurora from two-term Republican Richard Irvin. Laesch took over as leader of the state's second-largest city last Thursday after defeating Irvin in the April runoff election. He says the town has to borrow $88 million just to make ends meet — because the previous administration has given tens of millions in tax incentives to development projects — some have panned out, many have not. Big picture view Laesch says residents elected him because they knew that a financial mess would have to get cleaned up. "We didn't get into this mess overnight and we're not going to get out of it overnight," Laesch said over a cup of coffee at downtown café Society 57. "I've got a lot of support from the community. They know we're in trouble. I think they're going to be patient as I work through some solutions as long as I communicate with the community on where we're at, and I plan to be open and transparent moving forward." Laesch says some of the big spending involves infrastructure for the new Hollywood Casino facility on Farnsworth Road, as well as incentives and tax breaks given to developers with connections to former Mayor Irvin. He says that half the projects that the town helped fund are now underwater. He also says the former mayor signed generous public employee labor contracts, saddling the town with escalating costs — thus the potential for a tax hike. "I let the public know that was a likely outcome. I'm going to do my best to cut back, but many of these contracts that were signed are already a done deal," Laesch said. The Source FOX 32's Paris Schutz reported on this story.
