Wind Creek Illinois in Homewood – East Hazel Crest to hold casino license in the Southland Region
BY TIA CAROL JONES
The Illinois Gaming Board voted that Wind Creek, LLC, is preliminarily suitable for an owner’s license for a casino in the
South Suburbs. Wind Creek Illinois, operated by Wind Creek Illinois Hospitality, LLC, will be located in Homewood-East Hazel
Crest.
“Throughout this process, we have reiterated the belief that we offer the best location in and for the south suburban region – and will deliver on our commitments to job creation, community and economic investment, sustained operational excellence, and a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion in all phases of construction and operation,” Wind Creek Hospitality and CEO
Jay Dorris said in a statement. We plan to open the facility in 2023 and look forward to expanding our network of relationships in the Southland, working closely with leaders, organizations and
residents to ensure that the benefits associated with this project are felt by the entire region.”
The Poarch Creek Indian Gaming Authority will operate and manage the casino as it does the other casinos under the Wind
Creek Hospitality brand.
Wind Creek Hospitality chose Homewood and East Hazel Crest as the location for the casino because of the strength and stability of both communities, their visionary leadership, as well as the ability for the location to draw out-of-state visitors. The hope is that Wind Creek Illinois will maximize revenue, not just for Homewood and Hazel Crest, but for the entire Southland region.
The Villages of Matteson, Lynwood and Calumet City also submitted applications for the South Suburban casino license. In October, the Illinois Gaming Board voted for Matteson and Homewood- Hazel Crest as the two finalists for the license.
Wind Creek Illinois will be a AAA Four Diamond Casino destination, with a 70,000 square foot casino floor. It will have more than 1,350 slot machines and 56 table games; 15,800 square foot entertainment center; 35,000 square foot conference and banquet facility; three restaurants, two bars and a skyline
lounge. The hotel will have 252 rooms, with an indoor pool and spa.
Rich Hofeld, president of the Village of Homewood, believes the location of Wind Creek, close to I-80, was a determining factor in the Illinois Gaming Board giving the proposal the license.
“This site will generate the most revenue of all the sites that have been proposed for the Southland,” he said. “In essence, when you evaluate a site, what you want to see is which site will
generate the most revenue and which site will sustain that revenue growth. Both the gaming board, Wind Creek and
ourselves we felt this was the site that would do that.”
During a presentation by Wind Creek Illinois to the Illinois Gaming Board, it mentioned a $156 million in annual gaming revenues.
Wind Creek Illinois will submit final plans to the gaming board in early 2022, with construction to begin once the weather permits. The project is set to be completed in 2023 and 12-18 months for construction of the facility.
Wind Creek Illinois will create 800 casino jobs. Hofeld said in the Southland community, there is a need for good paying jobs. Local communities will receive, as dictated by the legislation, 2% of the gaming revenues and the South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association membership, which consists of more than 40 communities, will receive 3%.
