“I think the casino needs to be in a new location.

She said the loss of the casino won't hurt the downtown and moving it will be good for the city overall. “It (the move) is the best thing to happen to downtown Aurora,” said Amy Morton, owner of Stolp Island Social restaurant.Īlderman Juany Garza, whose ward covers much of the downtown, isn't worried, either. The estimated $360 million project would include a hotel, restaurants and a spa. The casino has proposed moving to a site on the west side of Farnsworth Avenue on the northern edge of town. Brian the Hollywood Casino moves out of downtown Aurora, what happens to the downtown?Ī business group, a restaurant owner and an alderman say it will be fine without the Hollywood Casino. Casino gambling, video gaming and sports wagering generated more than $1.4 billion in tax revenue to the state and local communities in calendar year 2022.Ĭonstruction is expected to take approximately 24 months.Hollywood Casino may leave the riverside home it has had for nearly 30 years in downtown Aurora and relocate to a spot on Farnsworth Avenue. Illinois is home to 12 casinos, more than 8,300 licensed video gaming establishments and nine sportsbooks. Any shortfall of taxes relative to bond payments will be covered by the developers, Penn Entertainment, a publicly-traded company. The bonds will be repaid from property taxes paid by the casino. The city expects the project to create 700 construction jobs and an equal amount of full-time jobs once complete.Īurora’s city council had previously approved a plan which calls for the city to raise $50 million in general obligation bonds for development of the new site. According to planners, the new casino resort will boast a modern, best-in-class casino with approximately 900 slots, and 50 live table games a best-in-class hotel with approximately 200 hotel rooms a 10,000 square foot event center a full-service spa and high-quality bars and restaurants.

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