5 Potential Chicago Casino Locations Scouted By Mayor

CHICAGO, IL — Chicago mayor Lori Lightfoot selected five potential locations for Chicago's first casino, according to reports. The announcement came Wednesday, July 17.

Four of the potential locations are on the south side and one is on the west side, Curbed Chicago reported.

“While a Chicago casino had been talked about for more than 30 years, today we are moving forward to ensure the new casino is viable for Chicago and all of its communities,” Lightfoot said, Curbed reported.

The Chicago casino would be privately owned and the city would receive one-third of the tax revenue generated by it, according to ABC Chicago.

NBC Chicago reported the five sites for the new casino are:

• Harborside at 111th Street and the Bishop Ford Freeway
• former Michael Reese hospital at 31st Street and Cottage Grove
• Pershing and State
• Roosevelt and Kostner
• former U.S. Steel parcel at 80th Street and Lake Shore Drive

"We are securing new resources to improve our parks, schools, public transportation and roads through a new capital bill; new revenue for the City and the end to an old inequity through legalized cannabis; and the first step in approval for a Chicago casino that will help shore up the City's seriously underfunded pension funds and creating new jobs," Lightfoot said in a statement in late May.

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