EAST HAZEL CREST, IL – Representatives from the Poarch Band of Creek Indians and Wind Creek Hospitality have marked the start of construction on the Wind Creek Chicago Southland casino and celebrated local leaders who provided support for the project throughout the application process. The casino, slated to open in 2023, will be built directly off I-80 near Halsted Street and 175th Street in the south suburban communities of East Hazel Crest and Homewood.
“Wind Creek doesn’t just build casinos, we truly build communities,” said Stephanie Bryan, Tribal Chair & CEO, Poarch Creek Indians. “We are so very thankful for the support of community leaders, local organizations and residents of the south suburbs who helped get us to this point, and look forward to working with you to ensure that the benefits associated with this project are experienced by the entire region.”
Those passing by the site will begin seeing a flurry of construction activity in the coming days and weeks. Wind Creek Chicago Southland, a 70,000 sq. ft. casino, will feature 1,350 slot machines, 56 table games, entertainment, dining, a 252-room luxury hotel, and will bring approximately 800 jobs to the south suburban region. In addition, the project will create approximately 600 construction jobs. Revenues will be shared with the State of Illinois and surrounding south suburban townships.
“Our commitment to this community has already begun and will only be strengthened as we move our focus to job creation and finalizing the details of the Southland Public Benefit Fund,” said Jay Dorris, President and CEO, Wind Creek Hospitality. “People across the Southland have been waiting for this casino and the community investment that comes along with it, and we’re happy to be taking concrete steps to see this dream realized.”
Wind Creek, East Hazel Crest and Homewood will contribute to the Southland Public Benefit Fund. The fund will distribute $150,000 per year to the combined recipients for the first five years of operation to provide scholarships for disadvantaged students and health services for the south suburban region through partnerships with South Suburban College, Prairie State College, Moraine Valley Community College, the Ingalls Development Foundation and Advocate South Suburban Hospital. Once the fund corpus reaches $20 million, the fund will distribute $1,000,000 annually.
On December 8, 2021, Wind Creek Hospitality was chosen by the Illinois Gaming Board to develop a four diamond casino and entertainment destination in the south suburban communities of East Hazel Crest and Homewood, IL.
