- No visible work has been undertaken on the Four Diamond Casino in East Hazel Crest and Homewood.
- Wind Creek Hospitality was given the green light to proceed with the project last December and the company broke ground last June.
- The casino was expected to be ready by summer or fall next year but the opening has been pushed back to late 2023 or early 2024.
The opening of the first southland casino has been pushed back due to delays.
Four Diamond Casino in East Hazel Crest and Homewood was expected to be ready by mid-next year but due to unforeseen issues, it won’t be ready until at least late next year.
In a statement, Arthur Mothershed, executive vice president of business development and government relations for Wind Creek said:
“We have experienced some delays. There are some permitting issues we didn’t foresee but those have been put to rest.”
No Visible Work After Eight Months
Eight months after Wind Creek Hospitality received the green light from state gaming authorities to proceed construction on a casino, no visible work has been undertaken, but that should change soon.https://t.co/gEHuhAMZh8
— Chicago Tribune (@chicagotribune) August 20, 2022
The Wind Creek project broke ground last June but eight months after it received the approval from regulators to proceed, no visible work has been undertaken. During the groundbreaking, officials attributed the delay to the COVID-19 supply chain issues and planning setbacks. Two months later, another set of hindrances hit the project.
According to the project’s developer, the Daly Group, prices for materials such as steel and precast concrete have risen. This has forced Wind Creek to make changes to its original plans, specifically those involving the planned hotel. However, Daly Group’s Patrick Daly said that the size and amenities originally proposed for the casino have not changed and that work preparing the site is likely to begin next month.
In its original proposal, Wind Creek estimated the casino would be ready to accept customers by late summer or fall of 2023. However, given the current delays, that target is now considered “ a little bit optimistic” and that late next year or early 2024 would be a more feasible timetable for its completion.
IGB Moves Forward with Homewood & East Hazel Crest Proposal
Illinois Gaming Board moves forward with casino proposals from East Hazel Crest & Homewood. pic.twitter.com/VerGKfDiyI
— Lauren Jiggetts (@laurenjiggetts) December 9, 2021
Last December, the Illinois Gaming Board moved forward with the casino proposal from East Hazel Crest and Homewood as the winning bidder for the south suburban license. Initially, there were four proposals received by the Board but Calumet City and Lynwood were removed from the competition last October. That set the stage for East Hazel Crest and Homewood to battle with Matterson for the said license.
Matterson’s project representatives proposed the opening of a temporary casino at the meeting space attached to Holiday Inn, southeast of Interstate 57 and U.S. 30 within six months, and the completion of a permanent casino after 18 months.
Meanwhile, East Hazel Crest and Homewood who are partnering with Wind Creek Hospitality proposed a 64,000-square-foot casino on a 24-acre site southwest of the interchange of Interstate 80 and Halsted Street. The initial phase would include the construction of a 21-story hotel with an entertainment center. The proposal did not mention the construction of a temporary casino.
