New Hollywood Casino Aurora ready to open to the public Wednesday
Summary
The new Hollywood Casino Aurora is set to open to the public on Wednesday evening, marking the end of a nearly decade-long project. Located along Farnsworth Avenue and Bilter Road near Interstate 88, the $360 million facility features a 1,200-person gaming floor, a 226-room hotel, a spa, and numerous dining options including restaurants by celebrity chefs Giada De Laurentiis and Stephanie Izard. The new property is replacing the longtime downtown riverboat casino, which closed earlier this month. The move was made possible by Illinois law changes that allowed casinos to operate on dry land. While the new casino is expected to employ 700 people, the impact on the local economy remains to be seen. The city of Aurora has agreed to a $50 million upfront payment to support the new location, a deal that was controversial among some city officials.
(Source:Chicago Tribune)