A push to expand gambling in Illinois could weigh into plans for improving Resorts casino in East Chicago.
Resorts new owner
Ameristar Casinos Inc. said in a prepared release Tuesday that the scope, timing and cost of longer-term expansion plans for the East Chicago riverboat will depend, in part, on potential changes in competitive conditions in the Chicagoland market.
Those plans could include a new single-level gaming facility, along with added parking and easier access to the property, the company said.
The fate of a gambling expansion bill in Illinois is one of "various factors" that will decide the scale of the improvements, Ameristar Vice President of Communications Karen Lynn said Wednesday.
"We don't speculate as to what will happen in Illinois," Lynn said. "We just took over the (Resorts) property yesterday and we remain focused on that aspect of our approach."
The Illinois Senate on Tuesday approved a bill creating three new casinos, including one in Chicago, and allowing existing casinos to expand to pay for a $13 billion construction package.
The bill heads now to the Illinois House, which traditionally has not supported gambling expansion plans.
John Busam, editor of Midwest Gaming & Travel, said he believes it's unlikely Illinois will add new casinos, but instead could allow existing casinos to serve more gamblers.
"It's just too big a hurdle to grant new casino licenses in Illinois," Busam said.
Ameristar plans to begin immediately making up to $32 million in improvements to the gambling floor and dining and entertainment venues at Resorts. Ameristar acquired Resorts for $675 million in a deal which closed on Tuesday.
"It was a very smooth transition," Lynn said. "We're very pleased. Our goal is to build on Resorts' success."
Ameristar officials, including new General Manger Timothy Wright and Assistant General Manager Pete Longi, have already boarded the riverboat, Lynn said.
Las Vegas-based Ameristar announced plans in April to buy the East Chicago casino from Resorts International Holdings and by 2010 to transform the riverboat into a single-level vessel twice its current size.
Founded in 1954 in Jackpot, Nev., Ameristar has been a public company since November 1993. The company has a portfolio of seven casinos in six markets, including in the St. Louis area, the Kansas City area, the Denver area and in Iowa, Mississippi and Nevada.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.