Illinois State Senator Dave Syverson says the state’s inaction on a planned Hard Rock Casino in Rockford is putting the area at a competitive disadvantage.
Wisconsin’s governor approved a Ho-Chunk casino to go forward in Beloit, right across the state border. The General Assembly passed gaming expansion back in 2019, and the Gaming Board had a year to approve Rockford’s casino. But it’s been 19 months since that happened.
“We don’t understand why it’s taking so long," Syverson said, "but the loss of jobs and revenues to local government and state is significant. Every month that this gets delayed is revenue that’s lost.”
The Hard Rock Casino would be allowed to build a temporary facility as the main casino is being built. But Syverson said even that can’t be done until the Illinois Gaming Board takes action.