The City of Danville is already benefiting from the new Golden Nugget Casino, even though it’s not open yet.
{Base pads are in place awaiting video gaming machines at the casino.}
During a ‘sneak peak’ for some city leaders and the media Wednesday the Golden Nugget Casino presented a one-million dollar check to the City of Danville. It is part of several other commitments the casino has made.
James Wilmot, President of Danville Development Company (which owns the casino), says no opening date has been set yet…
(AUDIO: ”A lot of things come together toward the end, and that’s what I would say we are at. We’re towards the end of this project. As you can see we’re getting to finish this. But we have a lot of requirements from the Illinois Gaming Board. We have a lot of requirements so we’re comfortable that our staff’s ready to open. And until everybody from construction to operations to our regulators say ‘hey, you’re good to go’ – we’re not going to risk it.”)
The casino is located at 204 Eastgate Drive – just off Lynch Road on Danville’s east side, and will employ 300 once it is fully operational. Wilmot says Danville Area Community College is playing a vital role in the hiring process…
(AUDIO: ”Dr. Nacco, Dr. Bridges, everybody over at DACC have been incredible to us. They provided us space for us to do our training. They provided us space to do our H.R. – various items like hiring and getting people through the licensing process. We have executive offices over there. And the College itself could not be more accommodating.”)
{Front view of the entrance to the new steak house as work continues.}
Wilmot notes a new Saltgrass Steak House will be coming with the casino when it opens…
(AUDIO: ”It’s one of about 80 in their brand. They have one in every one of their casinos. It’s a world-class restaurant. We’re going to have great local products that are on there as well. This will have Sports Betting. We’ll have, obviously, a Sports Bar, a cafe. We’ll be open near 24-hours. We do have to – I can’t remember how many hours a day, but we do have to close – which is nice. But we do have to close a couple of hours a day. I’m sure the staff’s happy. I don’t know if I’m happy, but I’m sure the staff’s happy about that.”)
{This entrance will take you from the casino floor into the Saltgrass Steak House.}
{This photo shows part of the back side of the casino.}
Mayor Rickey Williams Jr. says the million dollars the Golden Nugget Casino presented to the City on Wednesday will go toward the first phase of Riverfront Development. It will consist of scenic overlooks, completion of the riverfront boardwalk, and eventual connection into Ellsworth Park and the Kickapoo Rail Trail. The Riverfront Area is located along the Vermilion River, south and west of Danville’s downtown area.
