Last year, Full House Resorts inched closer to turning its American Place casino in Waukegan into reality. Now, the company awaits the Illinois Supreme Court’s final decision.
Previously, the company secured a positive recommendation from the Waukegan Planning and Zoning Commission to the City Council. This doesn’t mean there wasn’t trouble, however, as previously a lawsuit against the City of Waukegan and the Illinois Gaming Board by Forest County Potawatomi Community tried to prevent Full House Resorts from getting a license.
In 2021, the case was dismissed, providing the casino developer with the green light it needed. The company’s triumph, however, was short-lived as last year, the Illinois First District Appellate Court reversed the dismissal, forcing Full House to put its plans on hold once again.
The company is currently involved in a third-party lawsuit and cannot proceed with the beginning of its construction work for as long as the litigation over the license persists. According to attorney Stewart Weiss, the court should reach a decision by the end of 2024.
Full House Resorts Is Optimistic about the Lawsuit’s Result
Full House Resorts’ goal is to create a luxury resort that would attract customers from the Chicago area and bring economic stimulus to Lake County. According to the company and local leaders, the American Place casino would create many new jobs while providing guests with premium experiences.
The final property will boast a 5-star hotel with 20 suites, as well as a casino with some 100 gaming tables and 1,640 slots. Furthermore, American Place Waukegan will have a 1,500-seat entertainment venue. According to officials, the property “is for everybody,” not just for high rollers.
For reference, American Place’s president and CEO, Daniel Lee, expects the permanent property to open in 2027. He firmly believes that the ongoing lawsuit lacks merit and would be eventually dismissed, after which his team would need approximately two years to finalize the casino hotel. Lee is furthermore convinced that his team has the capacity to finance the construction.
Lake County officials and experts are looking forward to the finalization of the venue, arguing that it would be another attraction. Visit Lake County president Maureen Riedy praised the temporary property and expressed his enthusiasm about the permanent one.