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In October, Danville chose to endorse Haven Gaming LLC\u2019s casino proposal. The company\u2019s plans called for building a casino that would house 1,250 slot machines and 40 table games. It would include a resort hotel along with other amenities, including a 2,500-seat theater and a conference center.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Project leaders said they planned to potentially open a temporary casino as soon as nine months after the IGB approved the license application.<\/p>\n
IGB Chair Questions Danville Application<\/h2>\n
Haven Gaming submitted its application to the IGB on Oct. 28, the deadline the board set for license applications. At the board\u2019s Jan. 30 meeting, Haven Gaming sought IGB approval to revise the application.<\/p>\n
Ed Winkofsky, a lawyer representing Haven, told the board that some of the participants in the project changed in the week leading up to the application deadline. Company officials made \u201cbest efforts\u201d to provide information despite the \u201cunfortunate situation\u201d prior to the submission deadline, he added.<\/p>\n
IGB Chairman Charles Schmadeke was critical of the initial submission, asking if it was simply a \u201cplaceholder\u201d application. He even questioned the use of Winkofsky\u2019s description.<\/p>\n
Frankly, I don’t even consider it bare bones,\u201d he said. \u201cIt’s nothing. There was no disclosure or no even disclosure on what they’re trying to accomplish or what prevented them from answering some of those questions.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
The IGB voted 3-1 against allowing Haven to submit a revised application in January, but did not take action on the application itself.<\/p>\n
The January meeting has been the IGB\u2019s only meeting this year, as the COVID-19 crisis led to the cancellation of the March and April scheduled meetings.<\/p>\n
The next scheduled meeting is set for June 11.<\/p>\n
Indiana Moves Forward<\/h2>\n
Any delay in Danville getting its license could impact the city and project itself. While Illinois is considering a license for Danville, next door neighbor Indiana earlier this month approved a casino license for Terre Haute<\/a>, a city about 50 miles south of Danville.<\/p>\nBoth casinos will look to pull customers from similar markets in the central parts of both states.<\/p>\n
Haven Gaming\u2019s leadership includes Kathryn Solomon, Bill Bembenek, and Scott Sypolt. Winkofsky acknowledged a request for comment from Casino.org<\/em> on Tuesday. However, no one from the company returned a call or email.<\/p>\nIn an email to Casino.org<\/em>, Danville Mayor Rickey Williams Jr. said Tuesday he would not comment until IGB makes a move on the application.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A bill before Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker that revises the tax structure for a proposed Chicago casino also includes a provision meant to help Danville secure its casino. The move comes after the group seeking to build one had its request to revise its license application denied earlier this year. The Central Illinois town on […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":45,"featured_media":137006,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[13,18],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
Illinois Bill Gives Danville Possible 'Second Shot' for Casino License<\/title>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n