The city began a downtown revitalization effort called Joliet City Center in 1990.[1] The plan called for a greater emphasis on the Des Plaines riverfront, including the construction of a slip for riverboat gambling, which had been legalized by the state earlier that year. Early discussions were held between Joliet and Harrah's, operator of casinos in Nevada and Atlantic City,[2] but it was Missouri hotel developer John Q. Hammons who moved forward and was awarded the gaming license.[3] Hammons then brought Harrah's on board to operate the business and own an 80 percent share. Hammons' stake was initially to be financed by Harrah's, but this led to concern from the Illinois Gaming Board that Hammons was "selling" the license, so Hammons used his own money and outside funding sources instead.[4]
Harrah's Joliet launched its first boat on May 4, 1993, a 210-foot yacht named the Northern Star, with 500 slot machines and 40 table games.[5] A second vessel with a more traditional paddleboat look, the Southern Star, was added the following January.[6]
A $29-million hotel was added in 1999, with 204 rooms on 11 floors.[7]
After state law was changed to allow riverboat casinos to remain permanently docked, instead of cruising every two hours,[8] Harrah's replaced its boats in 2001 with two joined barges, with 40,000 square feet of gaming space with 1,138 slot machines and 31 table games.[9]
In October 2017, Caesars Entertainment (formerly Harrah's) transferred its 80 percent ownership stake in the property to Vici Properties as part of a corporate spin-off; Caesars continued to operate Harrah's Joliet under a lease agreement.[10][11]
^Baeb, Eddie (November 2, 1997). "Hub of anticipation: City Center expects a rebound". Herald-News. Joliet: via NewsBank. Retrieved 2012-05-20. (subscription required)
^Heneghan, Daniel (October 12, 1990). "Harrah's plans riverboat casino near Chicago". The Press of Atlantic City. via NewsBank. Retrieved 2012-05-21. (subscription required)
^Susan Adler Thorp (March 4, 1992). "Promus plans casino on boat near Chicago". The Commercial Appeal. Memphis: via NewsBank. Retrieved 2012-05-21. (subscription required)
^Bierschenk, Ed (October 16, 1992). "Another Joliet gambling venture given go-ahead". The State Journal-Register. Springfield, IL: via NewsBank. Copley News Service. Retrieved 2012-05-21. (subscription required)
^Hermann, Andrew (May 5, 1993). "New gambling boat sets sail out of Joliet". Chicago Sun-Times. via NewsBank. Retrieved 2012-05-20. (subscription required)
^Ver Berkmoes, Ryan (February 11, 1994). "A player's guide to the new riverboats". Chicago Sun-Times. via NewsBank. Retrieved 2012-05-20. (subscription required)
^Okon, Bob (November 7, 1999). "New deal downtown: Harrah's betting upscale hotel will draw out-of-towners". Herald-News. Joliet: via NewsBank. Retrieved 2012-05-20. (subscription required)
^McDermott, Kevin (June 30, 1999). "Illinois' new open boarding reportedly boosts crowds at casinos". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. via NewsBank. Retrieved 2012-05-20. (subscription required)
^Grochowski, John (October 21, 2001). "Harrah's barges into future". Chicago Sun-Times. via NewsBank. Retrieved 2012-05-20. (subscription required)
^"Vici Properties Inc., completes spin-off from Caesars Entertainment Operating Company" (Press release). Vici Properties. October 6, 2017 – via NewsBank.
^Form 424B4: Prospectus (Report). Vici Properties. February 2, 2018. p. F-54 – via EDGAR.
harrah, joliet, riverboat, casino, joliet, illinois, outside, chicago, operated, caesars, entertainment, slot, machines, hotel, rooms, restaurants, locationjoliet, illinois, united, statesaddress151, joliet, streetopening, datemay, 1993, years, 1993, themeart,. Harrah s Joliet is a riverboat casino in Joliet Illinois outside Chicago operated by Caesars Entertainment It has 1 138 slot machines 204 hotel rooms and 4 restaurants Harrah s JolietLocationJoliet Illinois United StatesAddress151 N Joliet StreetOpening dateMay 4 1993 30 years ago May 4 1993 ThemeArt DecoNo of rooms204Total gaming space40 000 square feet 3 700 m2 Casino typeRiverboatOwnerVici Properties 80 John Q Hammons 20 Operating license holderCaesars EntertainmentPublic transit accessPaceWebsitecaesars wbr com wbr harrahs joliet Contents 1 History 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksHistory editThe city began a downtown revitalization effort called Joliet City Center in 1990 1 The plan called for a greater emphasis on the Des Plaines riverfront including the construction of a slip for riverboat gambling which had been legalized by the state earlier that year Early discussions were held between Joliet and Harrah s operator of casinos in Nevada and Atlantic City 2 but it was Missouri hotel developer John Q Hammons who moved forward and was awarded the gaming license 3 Hammons then brought Harrah s on board to operate the business and own an 80 percent share Hammons stake was initially to be financed by Harrah s but this led to concern from the Illinois Gaming Board that Hammons was selling the license so Hammons used his own money and outside funding sources instead 4 Harrah s Joliet launched its first boat on May 4 1993 a 210 foot yacht named the Northern Star with 500 slot machines and 40 table games 5 A second vessel with a more traditional paddleboat look the Southern Star was added the following January 6 A 29 million hotel was added in 1999 with 204 rooms on 11 floors 7 After state law was changed to allow riverboat casinos to remain permanently docked instead of cruising every two hours 8 Harrah s replaced its boats in 2001 with two joined barges with 40 000 square feet of gaming space with 1 138 slot machines and 31 table games 9 In October 2017 Caesars Entertainment formerly Harrah s transferred its 80 percent ownership stake in the property to Vici Properties as part of a corporate spin off Caesars continued to operate Harrah s Joliet under a lease agreement 10 11 See also editList of Caesars Entertainment properties List of casinos in IllinoisReferences edit Baeb Eddie November 2 1997 Hub of anticipation City Center expects a rebound Herald News Joliet via NewsBank Retrieved 2012 05 20 subscription required Heneghan Daniel October 12 1990 Harrah s plans riverboat casino near Chicago The Press of Atlantic City via NewsBank Retrieved 2012 05 21 subscription required Susan Adler Thorp March 4 1992 Promus plans casino on boat near Chicago The Commercial Appeal Memphis via NewsBank Retrieved 2012 05 21 subscription required Bierschenk Ed October 16 1992 Another Joliet gambling venture given go ahead The State Journal Register Springfield IL via NewsBank Copley News Service Retrieved 2012 05 21 subscription required Hermann Andrew May 5 1993 New gambling boat sets sail out of Joliet Chicago Sun Times via NewsBank Retrieved 2012 05 20 subscription required Ver Berkmoes Ryan February 11 1994 A player s guide to the new riverboats Chicago Sun Times via NewsBank Retrieved 2012 05 20 subscription required Okon Bob November 7 1999 New deal downtown Harrah s betting upscale hotel will draw out of towners Herald News Joliet via NewsBank Retrieved 2012 05 20 subscription required McDermott Kevin June 30 1999 Illinois new open boarding reportedly boosts crowds at casinos St Louis Post Dispatch via NewsBank Retrieved 2012 05 20 subscription required Grochowski John October 21 2001 Harrah s barges into future Chicago Sun Times via NewsBank Retrieved 2012 05 20 subscription required Vici Properties Inc completes spin off from Caesars Entertainment Operating Company Press release Vici Properties October 6 2017 via NewsBank Form 424B4 Prospectus Report Vici Properties February 2 2018 p F 54 via EDGAR External links editHarrah s Joliet41 31 37 N 88 05 04 W 41 527 N 88 084497 W 41 527 88 084497 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Harrah 27s Joliet amp oldid 1167281026, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
