COOK COUNTY, Ill. (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Calumet City and Lynwood are out of the running in the south suburbs' bid for a new casino license.
The Illinois Gaming Board narrowed its decision down from 4 applicants to two finalists Wednesday morning; Wind Creek Illinois Casino in Homewood and Matteson Casino.
“We are extremely excited,” said Matteson Mayor Sheila Chalmers-Currin. “We honestly believe that it'd be the perfect place for a casino and so we're going to continue to work hard to make sure that others see that too.”
The proposed Matteson Casino would be located at the former Lincoln Mall site at U.S. 30 and Cicero Avenue.
Chalmers-Currin tells WBBM the village owns the land, and believes it would be the perfect location for a casino.
“We will be the furthest away from the City of Chicago and the farthest away from the Indiana border. Therefore, it would be the likely place for a casino and we're going to continue to push forward with that.”
However, competitor Wind Creek LLC claims it’s $400 million proposal would generate more revenue mainly because of the daily traffic along I-80/294.
“Wind Creek’s proposed casino and development in East Hazel Crest and Homewood is projected to draw more revenue than its competitor and would create around 800 full-time equivalent jobs in the Southland, in addition to creating a public benefit fund to provide grants for education and healthcare to benefit the region,” Wind Creek Hospitality President and CEO Jay Dorris said in a statement.
Both finalists will have a chance to address the Illinois Gaming Board on October 28 before it moves onto final offers and negotiations.
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