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Business Wire
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Wire
PENN Entertainment Celebrates Grand Opening of Hollywood Casino Joliet
WYOMISSING, Pa. & JOLIET, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today marks the grand opening of Hollywood Casino Joliet, the all-new, land-based property by PENN Entertainment, Inc. (Nasdaq: PENN) ('PENN' or the 'Company'). The $185 million state-of-the-art casino replaces the former riverboat property that operated on the shores of the Des Plaines River since 1992. Legislators and area dignitaries, Illinois Gaming Board officials, Chicago Bears executives and NFL legend and Joliet native Tom Thayer are joining PENN team members for a ribbon-cutting ceremony this morning. Hollywood Casino Joliet will then open to the public at 4:00 p.m. and welcome guests to experience approximately 1,000 of the newest slot machines, 43 table games, a retail ESPN BET™ sportsbook, upscale national and Chicagoland celebrity-led dining and, above all, a premier guest experience. 'We would like to officially welcome players and guests to the all-new Hollywood Casino Joliet,' said Jay Snowden, CEO and President of PENN Entertainment. 'After approximately 20 months of construction, we are thrilled to open the doors to this land-based entertainment destination. We are proud of our 30-year history in Will County and are committed to continuing our investment in the community by creating new jobs, providing important tax revenue, and serving as a new attraction to bring even more visitors to the area.' 'This opening marks an exciting new era of entertainment in Joliet,' said Todd George, Executive Vice President of Operations for PENN. 'We're grateful for the support from the city of Joliet, the Illinois Gaming Board, and our business and community partners who contributed to the successful development of this new property. We look forward to delivering an elevated experience with world class dining, entertainment, and gaming options for patrons across the region.' The roughly 189,000 square foot entertainment destination employs approximately 600 team members and generated around 450 construction jobs. Open seven days a week and 24 hours a day, the fun and excitement will continue 365 days a year. Gaming Floor Hollywood Casino Joliet's gaming floor features 1,000 of the latest video reel slot and video poker machines, as well as 43 exciting table games, including blackjack, craps, roulette, baccarat, and more. The ESPN BET sportsbook includes one of Chicagoland's largest TV screens to create the ultimate watching experience, sports betting tellers, and sports wagering and racing kiosks, along with interactive games. Dining and Entertainment Hollywood Casino Joliet features multiple world-class dining options throughout the property, including many options for guests of all ages. PENN partnered with celebrity chef and entrepreneur Giada De Laurentiis to create Sorellina by Giada, an upscale restaurant that combines De Laurentiis' signature fusion of classic Italian cuisine and modern California influence. The restaurant seats roughly 170 guests and features a unique menu of pastas, pizza, and more. Boulevard Food & Drink Hall is a dynamic dining experience operated by McClain Camarota Hospitality, founded by James Beard Award-winning chef and restaurateur Shawn McClain. Open to all ages with both indoor seating and an outdoor patio with a fire feature, Boulevard Food & Drink Hall includes Chicago favorites Antique Taco and Pretty Cool Ice Cream, as well as Five50 Pizza and Lucky Goat, an all-new burger concept from fellow James Beard Award-winning celebrity chef Stephanie Izard. In addition to the numerous betting opportunities and massive screen highlighting the hottest sports action from around the world, ESPN BET is also a full service, classic casual restaurant that seats roughly 185 patrons in the dining room and bar. Guests can enjoy a wide array of food and beverage options, featuring favorites such as burgers, crispy wings, sandwiches, and shareables, plus a wide selection of craft and domestic beers and hand-crafted cocktails. Red Lotus Asian Kitchen will serve patrons authentic made-to-order Asian cuisine, featuring popular noodle and southeast Asian specialties designed to excite the senses in a sleek, modern designed open kitchen. Nearby on the gaming floor is &Vine, a 100-seat bar and entertainment lounge offering distinctive beverages and will be host to various artists for guests to enjoy. In addition, Hollywood Casino Joliet's 10,000 square foot event center includes a customizable layout to accommodate weddings, galas, community events, concerts, sports events, meetings, and more. The event center is also accessible for all ages. PENN Play™ Rewards Program Guests can elevate their experience with PENN Play, PENN Entertainment's industry-leading loyalty program, available at more than 35 destinations nationwide. This free membership offers exclusive access to events, experiences, and personalized rewards across gaming, dining, hotel stays, and entertainment. With five membership tiers—Play, Advantage, Preferred, Elite, and Owners Club, members enjoy benefits such as priority access, premium partner perks, and personalized offers. Members can easily track their rewards and tier progress through the PENN Play app, which also manages their loyalty dollars 'PENN Cash', redeemable for PENN SlotPlay, hotel stays, dining, and more. Once members reach 3,000 Tier Points, they unlock Real Time Rewards, delivering instant PENN Cash bonuses. The program also proudly features PENN Heroes, honoring active-duty military, veterans, and first responders with exclusive benefits, including annual tier upgrades, hotel and dining discounts, and special promotions. About Hollywood Casino Joliet Hollywood Casino Joliet, operated by PENN Entertainment, is now open at the all-new, land-based entertainment destination located at 1401 Gateway Blvd., Joliet, IL. The state-of-the-art casino recently replaced the former riverboat located on the shores of the Des Plaines River since 1992. The all-new Hollywood Casino Joliet features approximately 1,000 slots and 43 live table games, an ESPN BET sportsbook, several new restaurants and bars, event center and meeting space, and ample parking. For more information, visit About PENN Entertainment PENN Entertainment, Inc., together with its subsidiaries ('PENN,' or the 'Company'), is North America's leading provider of integrated entertainment, sports content, and casino gaming experiences. PENN operates in 28 jurisdictions throughout North America, with a broadly diversified portfolio of casinos, racetracks, and online sports betting and iCasino offerings under well-recognized brands including Hollywood Casino®, L'Auberge®, ESPN BET™, and theScore BET Sportsbook and Casino®. PENN's ability to leverage its partnership with ESPN, the 'worldwide leader in sports,' and its ownership of theScore™, the top digital sports media brand in Canada, is central to the Company's highly differentiated strategy to expand its footprint and efficiently grow its customer ecosystem. PENN's focus on organic cross-sell opportunities is reinforced by its market-leading retail casinos, sports media assets, and technology, including a proprietary state-of-the-art, fully integrated digital sports and iCasino betting platform, and an in-house iCasino content studio (PENN Game Studios). The Company's portfolio is further bolstered by its industry-leading PENN Play™ customer loyalty program, offering its approximately 32 million members a unique set of rewards and experiences. Forward Looking Statement This press release contains 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as 'expects,' 'believes,' 'estimates,' 'projects,' 'intends,' 'plans,' 'goal,' 'seeks,' 'may,' 'will,' 'should,' 'look forward to,' or 'anticipates' or the negative or other variations of these or similar words, or by discussions of future events, strategies or risks and uncertainties. These statements are based upon management's current expectations, assumptions and estimates and are not guarantees of timing, future results, or performance. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Actual results may differ materially from those contemplated in these statements due to a variety of risks, uncertainties and other factors, including those factors described in PENN Entertainment's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the 'SEC'), including PENN Entertainment's current reports on Form 8-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and its annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made and, except for PENN Entertainment's ongoing obligations under the U.S. federal securities laws, PENN Entertainment undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Judge halts Rockford's efforts to limit video gaming terminals
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — A circuit court judge has barred the City of Rockford from enforcing rules meant to slow the growth of gambling in the city. 17th Judicial Circuit Court Judge Fabiano issued the ruling in response to a lawsuit brought by Kelly Quinby, the proprietor of Spinning Slots, at 1625 Sandy Hollow Road, after the city refused to license a 6th video gaming terminal (VGT) at the location, despite allowances by the Illinois Gaming Board to do so. The state's 2009 Video Gaming Act allows any business licensed to serve liquor to install up to six slot machines. However, to slow the growth of gambling machines within the city, Aldermen passed an ordinance that would require venues to derive at least 50% of total revenue from food and alcohol sales. The ordinance was to help existing bars and restaurants that wanted to add gambling terminals as a source of extra income, and discourage independent operators from opening establishments where gambling was the primary source of revenue. According to the lawsuit, the city refused to license Spinning Slots' 6th gaming terminal, despite its authorization by the Illinois Gaming Board, and denied renewal of its liquor license because the establishment did not meet the 50% income threshold. On Thursday, the court ruled that the City lacked the authority to regulate video gaming establishments, as this power resides with the state. The ruling prevents the City from enforcing any local ordinances that limit the number of video game terminals in the city. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Yahoo
Illinois casinos required to offer human trafficking training
CHICAGO (WMBD) — New administrative rules made by the Illinois Gaming Board will require all casinos within the state to conduct mandatory human trafficking recognition training. The rules will also mandate the development and the documentation of human trafficking training and reporting procedures, as well as posting human trafficking awareness notices. Casino Rule 3000.175 is now effective, following the May 2 approval from the General Assembly's Joint Committee on Administrative Rules. The new rule includes the following requirements: All casino employees must complete annual human trafficking training with their initial training being completed within the first three months from the start of their employment. This training will include information on what makes an individual susceptible to human trafficking, the different types of human trafficking, red flags that indicate trafficking as well as agencies that provide services to victims of trafficking. Each gaming licensee must maintain records reflecting this requirement. Casinos must establish and implement employee procedures for documenting, reporting, and responding to suspected instances of human trafficking within gaming and non-gaming areas. Casinos must also provide copies of human trafficking curriculum and protocols to the IGB Administrator. Casinos must post human trafficking awareness notices with hotline telephone numbers and other important information including where to seek help or report instances of trafficking. Notices must be placed in bathrooms, near public entrances, and in other visible locations, consistent with notices developed by the Illinois Department of Human Services in compliance with the Human Trafficking Resource Center Notice Act (775 ILCS 50/10). The full rule is available here.1 'Human traffickers often target casinos and hospitality venues to conduct their illegal activities,' said Marcus Fruchter, the gaming board's administrator. 'By adopting mandatory human trafficking recognition training, establishing minimum requirements for that training and requiring casino operators to implement appropriate reporting and signage protocols, the IGB, while working in partnership with the Illinois State Police and other law enforcement agencies, is taking meaningful steps to combat these heinous crimes.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Yahoo
Illinois Gaming Board's new rules on human trafficking and casinos
CHICAGO, Ill. (WTWO/WAWV)— The Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) has created new rules for casinos across Illinois to combat human trafficking. The new rules put into place will now require casinos statewide to conduct mandatory human trafficking recognition training, develop, document, and implement human trafficking training and reporting procedures. Once these procedures are put in place, they will provide a report to the IGB. The new rules will also require casinos to post human trafficking awareness notices. The notices will be posted in bathrooms, near public entrances, and in other visible locations. The notices will include hotline contact numbers and other important information like where to seek help or report instances of trafficking. 'Human traffickers often target casinos and hospitality venues to conduct their illegal activities,' said IGB Administrator Marcus D. Fruchter. 'By adopting mandatory human trafficking recognition training, establishing minimum requirements for that training, and requiring casino operators to implement appropriate reporting and signage protocols, the IGB, while working in partnership with the Illinois State Police (ISP) and other law enforcement agencies, is taking meaningful steps to combat these heinous crimes.' The new rules were implemented after approval from the General Assembly's Joint Committee on Administrative Rules on May 2. These rules will require employees of the casinos to take the training within three months of beginning employment. The training will cover topics such as things that might make an individual more susceptible, the different types, red flags to look for, and agencies to contact on human trafficking. 'Human trafficking is one of the most underreported and under-identified crimes,' said ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly. 'Because human trafficking can come in many forms and can happen almost anywhere, it is important to train people working in industries targeted by human traffickers to recognize the signs so they can report the crimes and help save lives.' The full wording of the new rules can be viewed here. While the Indiana Gaming Board has no such rules for its casinos, House Bill 1416 was just passed on May 6 requiring safety rest areas, gas stations, and welcome centers to display human trafficking awareness information, and permits massage establishments to display human trafficking awareness information. 'This bill is a great first step in curbing human trafficking in our state. … If having these posters on display in our gas stations and rest areas can save just one life, it's worth it,' said Rep. John Barlett (D-Indianapolis). Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Daywatch: Gaming Board stops construction at Bally's Chicago casino site
Good morning, Chicago. The Illinois Gaming Board issued a stop work order yesterday at the planned Bally's Chicago casino site in River West after it was discovered that the construction project was using an unauthorized subcontracted waste hauler previously alleged to have had ties to organized crime. D&P Construction, a Melrose Park company which provided dumpsters used at the 30-acre site, was hired by the Chicago Community Builders Collective, a minority-led general contracting partnership constructing Bally's Chicago $1.7 billion permanent casino complex. 'Today we were informed by IGB that the contractors working on the Bally's Chicago site were utilizing an unapproved vendor and were issued a stop work notice,' a Bally's spokesperson said in a statement yesterday evening. 'We appreciate the diligence and action of IGB. This is the process at work. We look forward to working with the IGB to eliminate the possibility of it happening again.' Read the full story from the Tribune's Robert Channick. Here are the top stories you need to know to start your day, including a look yesterday's May Day rally, a deal over Chicago's Columbus statues and a homecoming for Chicago Sky players. Today's eNewspaper edition | Subscribe to more newsletters | Asking Eric | Horoscopes | Puzzles & Games | Today in History It's the latest move by Trump and his administration to utilize federal powers to control or hamstring institutions whose actions or viewpoints he disagrees with. Thousands gathered for a rally on May Day, a celebration with Chicago ties that commemorates the labor movement. The group marched to Grant Park in the afternoon, as hundreds of thousands turned out for rallies around the world, many united in anger over Trump's agenda, including aggressive tariffs and immigration crackdowns. This year's rally and march comes nearly 140 years after the Haymarket Affair and just over 100 days into Trump's second term. Related: Photos: Thousands march through downtown Chicago for May Day The Chicago Park District announced yesterday they reached a deal to end a lawsuit brought over the removal of Christopher Columbus statues from city parks during 2020 protests. A pair of Cook County Jail detainees are alleging sheriff's deputies encouraged a third inmate to tie them up and sexually assault them at knifepoint after one of them complained about forced sexual encounters with a guard in the jail complex. The alleged misconduct is outlined in a lawsuit filed yesterday, which contends the attack came after one of the inmates had made a prior complaint about a nonconsensual sex with a female correctional officer. A federal judge yesterday postponed the retrial of of ex-AT&T Illinois boss Paul La Schiazza on bribery counts related to former House Speaker Michael Madigan, allowing the new U.S. attorney in Chicago to consider next steps in the case and avoiding the possibility that Madigan would be sentenced in the same courthouse while La Schiazza's jury was deliberating. A Harvey alderwoman has been charged with misdemeanor offenses after being forcibly removed by police during Monday's City Council meeting, according to the city. The driver of a car that barreled through a building used for a popular after-school camp in central Illinois, killing three children and a teenager, was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol and may have had a medical emergency, police said yesterday. The biggest day of the Chicago White Sox season finally is at hand. After an 8-0 win over the Milwaukee Brewers yesterday, the Sox will debut their new Chicago Bulls-themed alternate uniforms, celebrating what the team's website described as two 'iconic' franchises. Like the vintage Reese's commercial in which someone accidentally gets peanut butter in his chocolate while another person gets chocolate in his peanut butter, this is a melding of two franchises that was bound to happen. The Chicago Cubs have touted a diverse offense that isn't reliant on home runs to win games. But long balls certainly help and were pivotal in the Cubs' 8-3 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates yesterday at PNC Park. The Chicago Sky's preseason opener in Baton Rouge, La., will offer a rare return to the past for three of their youngest stars. The game is part of a new WNBA series to bring preseason games to college markets of its top stars. This year's slate will include games hosted at Iowa, Oregon and Notre Dame to feature top alums such as Caitlin Clark, Sabrina Ionescu, Jewell Loyd, Arike Ogunbowale and Jackie Young. After Blue Island officials temporarily shut down Harry's Long Bar following a fight involving patrons outside the establishment, the owners are stepping up evening security measures. Also around the area this weekend, comedian Laura Peek is at Zanies and the farmers markets open for summer.
