According to a recent article from Shaw Local, Hollywood Casino will open at the Rock Run Collection in Joliet, located at 1250 Rock Run Dr.
A representative of Hollywood Casino was not immediately available for commentary upon What Now Chicago’s request.
While an official opening date has yet to be released, according to another article from Shaw Local, the planned opening date for Hollywood Casino will be by late 2025 or early 2026.
According to the first Shaw Local article, Penn Entertainment is behind Hollywood Casino. “Penn Entertainment will hold a groundbreaking Wednesday for its future Hollywood Casino site in Joliet.”
“The company on Thursday announced that it will break ground for the $185 million project at the Rock Run Collection site being developed at the crossing of Interstates 55 and 80. Rock Run Collection is planned as a multi-use development that will include entertainment, residences, retail, restaurants, and other developments at the 309-acre site.”
The second Shaw Local article gives further information: “The new Hollywood Casino will feature a convention center and a half-dozen restaurants and bars, which reflect optimism for the future Joliet location at the crossing of Interstates 55 and 80.”
“We want to draw from everywhere,” said Mike Thoma, Vice President and General Manager of the casino. The restaurants will be “best in class” and are expected to cater to a market that won’t necessarily be coming for the gambling, he said.”
“The $185 million casino project also will provide 850 slots and 44 table games. The convention center will be 10,000 square feet. The facility will include a retail sportsbook. Hollywood Casino will not have its own hotel, as it currently does on its existing site, but it will partner with one of two hotels said to have signed tentative agreements to build at Rock Run Collection.”
“Hollywood Casino, one of 43 casinos operated by Penn Entertainment, is the latest iteration of a casino that was started in 1992 by a local group that named it Empress Casino. The original Empress operated on a riverboat, and McGowan said some of the early customers would hide in the restrooms to avoid being forced off the boat to adhere to a two-hour limit that was in place,” the article goes on to state.
