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Hard Rock has opened its long-awaited permanent casino in Rockford, Illinois.
Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara said during the Aug. 29 opening ceremony that Gov. JB Pritzker helped make it a seamless process.
According to a news post by My Stateline, McNamara said:
“Rockford is celebrating a huge win today with the opening of the long-awaited and much-desired Hard Rock Casino.
“Gov. JB Pritzker and our local delegation — Sen. Steve Stadelman, Sen. Dave Syverson and Rep. Maurice West — were instrumental in making this dream a reality. As the doors to the permanent casino open, I’m thrilled to welcome our residents and visitors to this incredible facility full of world-class gaming, dining, and entertainment.”
In addition to the permanent casino opening, Hard Rock’s sports betting app, Hard Rock Bet, went live on Aug. 25.
Key takeaways
- The highly anticipated permanent Hard Rock Casino in Rockford, Illinois, officially opened its doors on Aug. 29, marking a milestone for the city and the state.
- Hard Rock Bet, the casino operator’s sports betting app, launched ahead of the permanent casino’s opening.
- The Illinois casino will generate revenue for Rockford and the state of Illinois, contributing to economic growth and job creation.
Hard Rock Casino permanent facilities come packed with amenities
The Hard Rock Casino is at 7801 E State St. in Rockford, and as a permanent facility, it is a larger structure, which includes:
- A gaming floor of 175,000 square feet
- 1,300 slot machines
- 50 live table games
- A Hard Rock Live concert venue
- Hard Rock Cafe
- A sportsbook
- Six restaurants
The Hard Rock Casino will increase its workforce by hiring up to 400 additional staff. And its Hard Rock Live venue can accommodate a crowd of up to 2,000 people.
“It’s good to see the city continue to grow, and you have to tip your cap and give credit to all the incredible people that’ve put in the work in behind the scenes to make things like this happen.” NBA Champion and Rockford native Fred VanVleet said, according to My Stateline.
New Hard Rock Casino Rockford means more revenue for Illinois
The Hard Rock Casino, which announced in June the opening date of the permanent facility, has had a casino license since 2019. Operations are commencing now and the casino is ready to rake in more revenue for the Prairie State.
Pritzker said during the opening ceremony that the new casino will provide much-needed funds for the state. “I’m thrilled to celebrate another major economic win for the people of Illinois with the new Rockford Hard Rock Casino.
This state and local tax revenue helps ensure the city can meet their obligations and build for the future while alleviating the burden on Rockford taxpayers.”
Looking at the state’s latest financial results, IL casino revenues for July 2024 were down by 1.8% from June with $135.8 million. This slight deficit was not the case for annual growth which saw a slight increase of 1.9%, summing to $2.6M in casino revenue.
Out of the 15 casinos that brought about these numbers, Hard Rock Casino Rockford’s contribution was $5.9 million in July, showing a slight montly increase of 1.9%.
