Summary:
- Hollywood Casino Joliet posts $11.2M in September revenue, up 48% year-over-year in its first full month at the new location.
- Nearby riverboat casinos, including Harrah’s Joliet and Hollywood Aurora, see notable revenue declines.
- Illinois sees a dip overall in casino activity
Hollywood Casino Joliet is off to a strong start at its new land-based home, pulling in millions and drawing more visitors than ever in September, its first full month since opening the $185 million facility.
However, while Joliet’s numbers climbed, nearby riverboat casinos are feeling the ripple effect, with some seeing steep drops in revenue.
According to data from the Illinois Gaming Board, Hollywood Casino Joliet generated more than $11.2 million in adjusted gross receipts last month, landing it fourth among the state’s 17 casinos.
That’s a huge 48% jump from last year, when it was still operating as an aging riverboat on the Des Plaines River. The casino also welcomed more than 96,000 guests in September, a 75% year-over-year increase, putting it fifth statewide for admissions.
The new Joliet property is clearly giving players something fresh. The 100,000-square-foot casino includes 1,000 slot machines, 43 table games, a retail sportsbook, a 10,000-square-foot event center, and restaurants by celebrity chefs.
That new energy might be cutting into business at nearby competitors.
Statewide Casinos, Down 10%
Statewide casino performance, however, told a different story. Illinois casinos collectively took in $158 million in September and attracted about 1.3 million visitors, with both figures down roughly 10% from August.
Rivers Casino Des Plaines remained the state’s leader with $41 million in revenue, followed by Wind Creek Chicago Southland at $16 million, Hard Rock Rockford at $12 million, and Bally’s Chicago at $11 million, just behind Hollywood Joliet.
Harrah’s Joliet Casino, which still operates as a riverboat, saw its revenue tumble $3 million in September, marking a 27% drop from the previous month. Hollywood Casino Aurora, also owned by Penn Entertainment, reported a 16% decline, bringing in about $7.9 million.
Aurora’s own $360 million land-based complex is set to open next year, which could shift the balance once again.
New Casinos Perform Well
New casinos have been driving much of Illinois’ gaming growth. Wind Creek in East Hazel Crest, which opened late last year and added a hotel this spring, has quickly become the state’s second-busiest casino.
Hard Rock Rockford, which opened its full facility in August 2024, ranks third and plans to add a hotel soon.
More are on the way. Bally’s Chicago is building a $1.7 billion permanent complex set to open in 2026, while Full House Resorts plans to break ground on its permanent American Place casino in Waukegan later this year, with completion expected in 2027.
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