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For Golden Nugget Danville casino officials, the “ear worm” song they likely couldn’t get out of their heads was Europe’s “The Final Countdown.” The countdown now sits at mere hours as the Illinois casino plans to open to the public on Saturday, May 27.
Earlier this week, regulators were on-site and examined the operations, giving Golden Nugget the all-clear to welcome guests and start accepting bets. For that reason, Saturday will represent a historic day for Danville.
Golden Nugget casino in Danville receives temporary operating permit
According to a spokesperson for the Illinois Gaming Board (IGB), administrator Marcus Fruchter issued the necessary temporary operating permit for Golden Nugget’s opening on Friday. That permit allows the Danville casino to open its doors on Saturday.
According to the Commercial-News, Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) staff were in town earlier this week to comb over the casino with a fine-tooth comb. City officials were aware that things were in motion and were looking forward to a forthcoming launch at the casino.
Danville Mayor Rickey Williams Jr. voiced the possibility of the casino opening before the month ends during a City Council Public Services Committee meeting on Tuesday night. Williams stated that the casino would open before June “if all goes well.”
When the casino opens on Saturday, it will represent the culmination of over four years of work. A license for a casino in Danville was part of a gambling expansion law that the state enacted in 2019. Danville residents can now enjoy the fruits of those labors.
Illinois Golden Nugget casino will offer all the amenities
It’s unclear right now whether everything the casino has to offer will be available on opening day. However, the Golden Nugget Danville should eventually give guests all they expect from an Illinois casino.
On top of 14 gaming tables and 500 slots, the casino will also have a physical sportsbook on-site. The sportsbook will feature a bar and grill. For those who aren’t interested in gaming, the casino will offer a Saltgrass Steak House restaurant and other dining options.
The casino’s opening should mean Golden Nugget’s online sportsbook will eventually be available across Illinois as well. In Illinois, online sports betting goes through the state’s casinos, off-track betting parlors, and racetracks. Bets placed online via the Golden Nugget app will earn Golden Nugget’s 24K Select Club rewards points that players can redeem for benefits at the casino.
Danville residents and visitors have likely been wondering when they would be able to get their first experience at the casino as they have watched construction taking place. Fortunately for them, that opportunity is mere hours away. The final countdown is ongoing.
