American Place is getting ready to break ground this fall on its permanent resort and casino in Waukegan after ranking among the top revenue-producing casinos in Illinois as a temporary facility for more than two years.
“It’s exciting,” Alex Stolyar, the senior vice president and chief development officer of American Place owner Full House Resorts, said. “We’ve been waiting a long time for this, and now we can start building to transition to a permanent casino.”
When the first phase is complete, Jeff Babinski, American Place’s vice president and general manager, said the 200,000-square-foot building will house more than 1,200 slot machines, over 60 table games, restaurants, a food hall, a sports book and a poker room.
The Waukegan City Council unanimously approved American Place’s revised site plan without debate on Sept. 2 at City Hall clearing the way for the company to obtain building permits to start construction.
Originally approved by the Waukegan Planning and Zoning Commission more than two years ago — less than six months after the temporary facility opened — plans for the permanent facility have been delayed. A pair of lawsuits had to work their way through state and federal courts. Full House was not a party.
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Both lawsuits were brought by the Waukegan Potawatomi Casino suing the city of Waukegan and the Illinois Gaming Board in state court, and the city in federal court, claiming the plaintiff had a right to compete for the license.
The Illinois Supreme Court ruled in favor of the city and the gaming board in January of last year, and the United States Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit did the same for Waukegan in the federal case in February. Stolyar said Full House was an innocent bystander in both cases.
During the two-year delay, Stolyar said Full House had the opportunity to take a closer look at where it wanted to place buildings, parking lots and other items on the 38 acres where the final project will be located.
Tweaks to the original site plan were minor, but an improvement. Stolyar said entrances were placed on the north and west sides, and the building is more centered on the property. The current 100,000-square-foot temporary casino will not be removed, but will remain as an exhibition hall.
“It will be better access for more people,” Stolyar said. “When we had a chance to take a closer look, we were able to make some improvements.”
Construction will start after the fall groundbreaking. Stolyar said Full House is getting the necessary permits and approvals from the city and the gaming board, so it can break ground this fall with an opening of the first phase in August or September of 2027.
Babinski said while the temporary casino regularly ranks near the top among the state’s 17 casinos, according to gaming board reports, he anticipates a significantly larger customer base when the permanent facility opens.
“Everything will be new, and we expect a lot more people will come here and give us a try,” Babinski said. “Our entire team will be getting ready to transition there.”
With three restaurants now in the temporary facility, Stolyar said there will be more options in the permanent casino. There will be a fine dining steak house, a food hall featuring local eateries, a casual restaurant and an Asian dining room..
Circa Sports will continue to operate the sports book. Stolyar said it will be incorporated into the casual restaurant, with sufficient television screens to allow people to keep track of the games taking place. There will be several bars located throughout the building.
With a planned entertainment venue coming in Phase 2 of construction — a precise starting date for it has not yet been set — Babinski said the temporary structure will serve as an event space once the permanent building opens.
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“It will serve as an entertainment and convention center,” Babinski said. “Groups, businesses and shows can hold events here.”
Between Phase 1 and Phase 2, Stolyar said Phase 1A will be the construction of The Mansion, a five-star luxury, 20-suite hotel will be finished and open. A projected opening date has yet to be set.
When Phase 2 begins — no precise date is scheduled for the start of construction or opening — Stolyar said it will include a 200-room, four-star hotel tower, an entertainment venue and a parking garage.