The city of Chicago has issued its Request for Proposals (RFP) regarding the building of and running of an integrated casino resort within the city.
The chosen partner will have the sole casino license in the city, with the resort aimed to be ready by 2025.
The license holder will be permitted to operate a temporary casino for up to 24 months, and will be tasked with building an integrated resort containing a casino, hotel, meeting space, bars and restaurants, as well as entertainment venues.
Mayor of Chicago Lori. E Lightfoot said: “I am not interested in building a casino for the sake of building a casino. My goal is a multi-faceted entertainment development that we can all be proud of.
“Chicago deserves a world-class facility of superb quality and architectural significance. One that will add to Chicago’s iconic architecture and exceptional urban environment. One worthy of this city’s storied history.”
A site has not been chosen, with operators instead encouraged to choose a suitable location, but the city will have to approve any site that is chosen.
The city’s casino license also allows for the operation of slot machines at the City’s two airports – Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) and Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD).
An applicant will be chosen based on how closely they meet the city’s ‘core goals’ for the project. These are maximizing gaming tax revenue, creating well paying jobs, integrating into the wider community, being of “superb quality and architecturally significant design”, being a catalyst for economic development, providing a ”first-class standard of service” and meeting the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design building standards.
The City did not express a prioritization of these goals.
Further specific requirements include 50% of total work hours filled by city residents, Chicago-based business being prioritized during the design and construction of the project, and minority-owned and women-owned businesses making up 26% and 6% respectively of contractors.
Any proposals are due by August 23 2021, and final applicants will be chosen in early 2022.