South suburban casino opens to huge crowds
Hundreds of people lined up Monday outside Wind Creek Chicago Southland, waiting to be among the first to see the south suburb casino on opening day. The opening culminates a more than two-decade goal of south suburban politicians, and patrons, who began getting in line more than a hour before the opening, saying they were eager to see it. “I’ve been looking forward to this for a long time,” said Tony Barber, of Lansing. “I’m hoping I will win some money today.” Angelique Harper, of Calumet City, said she drives by the site, southwest of Halsted Street and Interstates 80/94, each day on her way to work in Joliet. “I’m off today and had to come by to try it,” she said. “I’m thinking maybe because it’s opening day the slots will be a little looser so people come back.” For now, just the casino and some food offerings are open, and the casino will operate from 8 a.m. to 4 a.m. seven days a week, according to Donia Lewis, a spokeswoman for Wind Creek. The casino itself is in East Hazel Crest and adjacent parking garages are in Homewood. The two communities have a revenue sharing agreement that’s been in place since 2012, and some of the gaming revenue will flow to more than 40 other south suburbs, primarly Black and brown communities. Over the years, suburbs including Country Club Hills, Chicago Heights, Ford Heights and Dolton have floated proposals for casinos. In the selection process that culimnated in the Wind Creek project being selected in December 2021 to proceed, proposals from Calumet City, Lynwood and Matteson were also considered by the Illinois Gaming Board. A steady stream of traffic flowed from southbound Halsted into the property, and traffic was backed up not only on that street but, as a result, from exit ramps off the highway. Brian and Carmelita Townsend, of South Holland, were among the visitors. Brian Townsend said they came “just to see how it was, for the brand new experience.” His wife said they were impressed. “Inside, it was absolutely beautiful,” Carmelita Townsend said. “I think they have something for everyone, as far as games.” The couple said they visit Indiana casinos, such as Horseshoe in Hammond and Hard Rock in Gary. Carmelita and Brian Townsend of South Holland outside Wind Creek Chicago Southland Casino on opening day, Nov. 11, 2024. (Mike Nolan / Daily Southtown) “Right now this is No. 1,” Brian Townsend said. Leaving the casino, Viola Bigelow said she was “blown away” by what she saw. The Calumet Park resident said she tried her hand at a couple slot machines and didn’t have much luck, but was impressed with the casino. “I had to see what this place looked like,” she said. “It’s really nice, more than I expected.” Barber said he’ll visit Horseshoe and Hard Rock “from time to time,” and backers of the Southland casino said they hope it will keep Illinois gamblers, and the money they spend, from crossing the state line. People crowd the front doors of Wind Creek Chicago Southland casino on opening day, Nov. 11, 2024. (Mike Nolan / Daily Southtown) Wind Creek is a subsidiary of PCI Gaming Authority Inc., which manages 10 casinos and other gambling properties on behalf of the Alabama-based Poarch Band of Creek Indians. The Southland casino, at 17300 S. Halsted St., spans 75,000 square feet. A 16-story, 252-room hotel with a spa and a steakhouse on the top floor is scheduled to open early next year. People wait to get in the Wind Creek Chicago Southland casino on opening day, Nov. 11, 2024. (Mike Nolan / Daily Southtown) The casino opened at 11 a.m., but Bigelow was there more than an hour early, and as people walked up they began forming their own lines, with little security visible to direct them. One line stretched to the north of the main doors, out to the surface parking lot, while another approached from the south, outside parking garages. Some people grew impatient as doors would open, then close briefly. There was no pushing or shoving as people tried to make their way in, but some people asked why the line wasn’t moving faster. A security guard came out, hands in the air and asking people to be patient. “I’m only one person so stand by, I’m trying to make it happen,” he said. At one point after the opening, an East Hazel Crest Fire Department ambulance was slowly driven from Halsted onto the property, contending with lines of vehicles waiting to get in. The 11 a.m. opening on Veterans Day was intended to coincide with the signing of the armistice agreement, ending hostilities in World War 1 and taking effect on the 11th hour, of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918. “It was a very special date and time for us to open,” Wind Creek’s Lewis said. Brian Townsend, a U.S. Army veteran who served from 1978 to 1985, was stationed in Louisiana and at some point deployed to Germany. The Townsends said they expected large crowds, but said “they have to work some kinks out” in handling patrons. Wind Creek Chicago Southland casino on opening day, Nov. 11, 2024. (Mike Nolan / Daily Southtown) Legislative efforts in Springfield held out hope for at least since May 2011 of clearing the path for a south suburban casino. The Homewood-East Hazel Crest site and Country Club Hills had been considered solid contenders for the state’s 10th casino license, which ultimately went in 2008 to Des Plaines and resulted in the hugely successful Rivers Casino. Wind Creek is projecting gross gaming revenues approaching $160 million a year by 2025. As part of its license application, Wind Creek has promised to establish the Southland Public Benefit Fund. Initially, Wind Creek plans to distribute $150,000 annually during the first five years of operation, with the money providing scholarships to disadvantaged students in the south suburbs and helping bolster access to health care. Wind
Bristol Virginia police and fire departments conduct active shooter drill at new casino
BRISTOL, Va. (WCYB) — With the grand opening of the casino this week, we’ve learned safety is a top priority. Bristol Virginia Police and Fire Departments were at the casino on Monday. They conducted an active shooter drill to make sure that they are prepared. This is just a chance for us to work with the casino in conjunction. For us to practice a police response, an emergency medical response, and fire response as needed so we know how to enter the buildings since it is a new structure, said Bristol Virginia Police Department Deputy Chief, Major Darryl Milligan. Law enforcement officers said this is a learning process as they navigate the different challenges. We want to be able to provide the best service to them in case something does happen, so this is just a practice scenario for us to go in, handle the situation like we would do it, said Major Darryl Milligan. If you are heading to the casino, Bristol Virginia Fire Captain, Brandon Moore said it’s important to always be aware of your surroundings. Whenever you’re in a public place, whether it be a casino or some other business, always know your exit routes, always be vigilant of people to see if anyone is acting out of the ordinary, said Fire Captain, Brandon Moore. Moore told me if you own a business in Bristol, Virginia and you’re concerned about extra foot traffic from the casino. There’s support for you too. You can contact the fire station, get a hold of myself or Chief Armstrong, and we’ll do our best to have an active shooter drill as well, said Fire Captain Brandon Moore. Click here for the traffic changes that will begin on the Hard Rock Casino’s opening day on Thursday, November 14. Source link
Bristol Hard Rock Casino closes in preparation for permanent facility opening — CDC Gaming
Kenzie Hagood, WJHL Email, LinkedIn, and more Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Bristol announced it will temporarily close on Monday in preparation for the Nov. 14 grand opening of the permanent facility. The casino said in a social media post that it would close from Nov. 11 at 3 a.m. until Nov. 14 at noon to prepare for the opening of its new facility and hotel. The post said that Players Club memberships and Unity Points will transfer to the new facility “seamlessly.” Source link
Dealer at Rivers Casino accused of dealing fraudulent hands
A blackjack dealer at Rivers Casino employee is facing charges, accused of dealing hundreds of fraudulent hands. State Police say 33-year-old Jamie Smith of Brighton Heights was seen on video surveillance by police and gaming enforcement agents overpaying patrons on winning and losing bets, not collecting money from lost bets or removing chips from a rack, during several series of hands. Investigators say the incidents happened from October 26th through November 2. Smith allegedly dealt 192 fraudulent hands resulting in a loss of nearly $22,000 for the casino. Smith is charged with theft, conspiracy and manipulating a game of chance. She has a preliminary hearing set for November 20. Featured Image Photo Credit: Getty Images Source link
Casino Crime News Roundup: Casino Dealer Allegedly Cheated
Posted on: November 11, 2024, 11:57h. Last updated on: November 11, 2024, 12:09h. A dealer at Rivers Casino Pittsburgh was arrested on Friday for a variety of alleged repeated violations while playing blackjack. Rivers Casino Pittsburgh, pictured above. A dealer at the property was arrested on charges of cheating the casino. (Image: Rivers Casino) Jamie L. Smith, 33, of Pittsburgh, Pa. is accused of improperly dealing cards some 192 times. Smith allegedly overpaid casino visitors for winning and losing bets, failed to collect money, and removed chips from the rack of chips, according to Pennsylvania State Police. The incidents took place on four days between October 26 and November 2. Smith’s actions caused the casino to lose $21,869, TribLive.com reported. The improper dealing was caught on casino surveillance video for 31 hours and was witnessed by agents, police said. Smith was charged with theft by unlawful taking, conspiracy, and knowingly manipulating a game of chance. She was released from the Allegheny County Jail and is scheduled to appear in Pittsburgh Municipal Court on November 20. Her case was handed over to local prosecutors. Man Died After Casino Lot Shooting A person died following a shooting that took place on Friday in a parking lot in a West Memphis, Arkansas casino. The unnamed victim was wounded at the Southland Casino at about 4 a.m and was rushed to Baptist Crittenden Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Police are continuing to search for the shooter and there’s been no word on what led to the incident. Details on the victim’s wounds weren’t immediately available. It’s likely the victim will be given an autopsy, which will confirm his identity and also identify the manner and cause of death. Casino security guards are cooperating with local police. Our security team immediately contacted West Memphis police after the isolated incident early this morning in the parking lot outside the casino,” according to Friday’s casino statement. Casino security guards gave local police surveillance video and other evidence to help them identify the suspect. Five Charged for Alleged Illegal Gambling Five suspects appeared in court on Thursday after New York authorities broke up an illegal online gambling operation. The men either lived in Nassau County or Suffolk County on Long Island. The arrests followed an investigation into an alleged illegal online sportsbook that began in July 2023 by the office of Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly. The operation was allegedly run by Anthony Frascone, 75, of East Meadow, NY, and Anthony Pellegrino, 59, of Merrick, NY, prosecutors said. Both were charged with seven counts of first-degree promoting gambling, first-degree criminal usury, 54 counts of second-degree promoting gambling, and fourth-degree conspiracy, Donnelly said. Both pleaded not guilty and are scheduled to appear in court on December 18. They face between five and 15 years in prison if convicted, prosecutors said. Other defendants include: Philip Carucci, 59, who’s charged with first-degree promoting gambling, first-degree possession of gambling records, and fifth-degree conspiracy. Frank LoNigro, 51, who’s charged with six counts of first-degree promoting gambling, one count of second-degree promoting gambling, and one count of fifth-degree conspiracy. Joseph Pietaro, 57. who’s charged with 50 counts of second-degree promoting gambling and one count of fifth-degree conspiracy. Pietaro is a former New York Police Department officer, Patch reported. Each of the three suspects pleaded not guilty. “One bettor alone owed more than $150K in debt to this alleged operation, showing the breadth of this illegal book,” Donnelly said in a statement. Source link
Cherokee Nation Returns Pope County Casino License to Court
Posted on: November 11, 2024, 11:05h. Last updated on: November 11, 2024, 11:11h. A subsidiary of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma filed a federal lawsuit last Friday alleging that its constitutional rights have been violated by a statewide gaming referendum in Arkansas. The Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma is challenging the outcome of Issue 2 in Arkansas. The statewide referendum repealed a gaming license issued to the tribe for a casino in Pope County’s Russellville. (Image: NBC4) Last week, Arkansas voters approved Issue 2 with 56% support. The ballot referendum repeals a commercial casino license earmarked for Pope County that was awarded to Cherokee Nation Entertainment in June. The Cherokees had planned to invest $300 million in Russellville to build Legends Resort & Casino. Issue 2 repealed the license on grounds that local voters in Pope County didn’t approve of a casino undertaking in 2018 when a statewide referendum authorized commercial casinos in the counties of Crittenden, Garland, Jefferson, and Pope. Issue 2 further amends the Arkansas Constitution to require that casino licenses only be allocated to counties where a local referendum in support of slot machines, table games, and sports betting is attained. Back to Court The Pope County casino license has been tied up in courts for years. While the three casinos in Crittenden, Garland, and Jefferson have since opened, the Pope project failed to break ground more than six years after Arkansans initially authorized a casino there in 2018. After years of legal wrangling, the Arkansas Racing Commission (ARC) determined in June that only the Cherokees’ bid for the Pope County gaming concession qualified for review, and therefore, was deemed the winner. With Issue 2 repealing the license effective November 13, the Cherokees’ legal team is contesting the referendum’s implications. Filed in Arkansas’ Eastern District Court, the Cherokees allege the referendum infringes on their constitutional rights. Cherokee Nation Entertainment is firmly committed to protecting its constitutional rights, defending its lawfully issued casino license, and safeguarding the substantial investments it made in good faith based on the establishment of the Pope County casino license under Amendment 100 in 2018,” Bart Calhoun, an attorney for Cherokee Nation Entertainment, said in a statement. The Cherokee Nation’s costs in its pursuit to open a commercial casino in Arkansas have been substantial. The tribe spent $12.5 million in unsuccessfully trying to defeat Issue 2. Its legal fees over the past six years amount to many millions more. The tribe’s legal complaint seeks declaratory relief that the amendment be held unconstitutional and that a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction preventing the amendment from taking effect on Wednesday be granted. Baseless Complaint Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin said he wasn’t surprised by the Cherokee filing. The state’s top attorney said his office is prepared to defend the amendment and called the allegations made by the Cherokees “baseless.” Hans Stiritz, a spokesperson for Local Voters in Charge, the political campaign bankrolled by the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma that was behind the Issue 2 amendment, echoed Griffin’s opinion. This legal action to attempt to bypass the voice of Arkansas voters is not unexpected,” said Stiritz. “But we are fully confident in the process that brought Issue 2 to the ballot. Arkansas voters have spoken clearly on Issue 2 and we expect it to stand.” Unlike in 2018 when voters in Pope County opposed the gaming push, the county last week opposed Issue 2, meaning a majority of the electorate there now supports housing a casino in the county. Source link
Texas casino gaming and betting law: Will it become legal?
Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick says the issue doesn’t currently have the support of the members, and they’re not hearing from constituents yearning for gambling. DALLAS — If you’re expecting casino gambling to pass during the next legislative session, don’t place any bets because you’ll likely just lose your money. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick says the issue doesn’t currently have the support of the members, and they’re not hearing from constituents yearning for gambling. “When we finished this last session, no one called and said oh, you didn’t pass the casino bill. It’s not on anyone’s top 20 list,” Patrick told us on Y’all-itics. “It doesn’t mean there aren’t people who really want it. But like anything else, Jason, it really bubbles up from the ground to tell a House member or a Senator that they want this legislation to pass. And that just has not happened.” Patrick tells us the Las Vegas Sands Corp., an upscale resort and casino company, has been the most vocal. Last year, Mark Cuban sold a majority stake in the Dallas Mavericks to casino magnate Miriam Adelson, who is the controlling shareholder of Las Vegas Sands Corp. “And the casino people have tried, ‘Well it’s all about the Senate, it’s all about Dan Patrick, or it’s all about whomever.’ No. They’ve never worked the vote. They’ve come in and spent millions and millions and millions of dollars and they just think well magically it happens,” Patrick argued. A casino bill came within eight votes of passing out of the Texas House during the last legislative session in 2023. But Patrick says every Democrat supported that legislation, dooming it. “You don’t pass major legislation in a red, conservative state with the Democrats controlling the show, particularly on a major bill like that,” argued the Republican. “I’m not leading the parade on it. I’m not stopping the parade on it. But we do not pass bills where only 20% or 25% of the elected officials support it. We just don’t do that on any bill.” The lieutenant governor also says that if a bill were ever to gain traction, then Texans would start to hear more from opponents, such as pastors and businesses opposed to gambling. But he says you don’t hear from them now because they know what he knows: the support just isn’t there. Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick says the votes are there to pass school choice. He discusses what that system would look like and other priorities for the next session. Listen to the entire podcast to learn more. Cheers! Source link
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Rivers Casino table games dealer charged with dealing nearly 200 fraudulent hands of blackjack – WPXI
PITTSBURGH — A Rivers Casino table games dealer is facing charges after she allegedly dealt nearly 200 fraudulent hands of blackjack. Pennsylvania State Police said that between Oct. 26 and Nov. 2, Jamie Smith was overpaying patrons on winning/losing bets, never collected monies from losing bets, removed chips from the float and paid multiple different patrons. Video surveillance showed Smith working for 31 hours and dealing 192 fraudulent hands of the card game, totaling a loss of $21,869, police said. Smith was taken into custody when she arrived for her shift on Nov. 8. She was taken to the Allegheny County Jail. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TOP STORIES FROM CHANNEL 11 NEWS ©2024 Cox Media Group Source link
Wind Creek Chicago Southland casino near I-80, Halsted Street in East Hazel Crest, Homewood opening Monday
HOMEWOOD, Ill. (WLS) — The Wind Creek Chicago Southland opens Monday morning in East Hazel Crest. This casino is three years in the making, getting the green light to build in 2021, after state legislation expanded casino gambling in Illinois. ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch Located near I-80 and Halsted, the $529-million new Wind Creek Casino comes with 1,400 slot machines, 56 table games, and three restaurants. The south suburban casino is within East Hazel Crest city limits and parking garages on adjacent land in Homewood. It’s estimated, the casino could generate around $2-million in revenue each year for the southland region, creating over a thousand jobs. RELATED: Demolition begins for permanent Bally’s casino, hotel at former Chicago Tribune publishing site “It’s been a 12-year timeframe that we’ve been working on getting this done and its obviously coming to fruition and it’s well worth,” East Hazel Crest Mayor Thomas Brown said. A 16-story hotel tower with over 250 rooms and a rooftop restaurant are also set to open in the property early next year. Copyright © 2024 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved. Source link
