1. Nearest Casino In Chicago
2. Nearest Casino To Downtown Chicago Downtown

Some casino’s offer free shuttles, some require you to take public transit to connect with a free shuttle and some offer no shuttle at all. As always check the schedules as they are all subject to change. Guide to Chicago Area Casinos

6/23/20: All casino’s may be closed due to Covid. Please call the casino to check status.

The best casinos near Chicago. Thanks to the proximity to downtown (a 17-mile shot over the Chicago Skyway) and free shuttles roaming Chicago. Grab a cocktail (they run as cheap as $4) at Push. Conveniently located 40 minutes away from downtown Chicago, the Majestic Star Casino offers unique facilities and atmosphere like nowhere else. It can easily make your night out a memorable one. The slogan best represents the main reason for its popularity: “We are providing The Win to the Windy City”.

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Illinois Casino’s

Grand Victoria Elgin, 250 South Grove Ave, Elgin, IL (847) 468-7000. Press 7 for operator.

Pritzker has said he wants to see Chicago’s casino located away from downtown, telling reporters Tuesday that it could drive economic recovery and create jobs in areas that have been. Hotels close to a casino in Downtown Chicago offer the convenience of easy access to your favorite games of chance, so you’ll feel like you’ve hit the jackpot. Check out a great variety of Downtown Chicago hotels by a casino and discover the one that will make your dreams come true.

Casino hours: 8:30 am – 6:30 am.

• No free or discounted shuttles.
• Metra Milwaukee District West Line: The MDW has a limited schedule and runs out of the Union Station where it can be difficult to get a cab at off hours. The casinoa half a mile from the National Street Station. I don’t know what that area around the station is like. Use a Metra weekend pass for $10.

Harrah’s Joliet, 151 N. Joliet Street, Joliet, IL (815) 740-7800.Press 9 for operator.

Casino hours: 8am – 6am.

• No free or discounted shuttles.
• Metra Rock Island: The Rock Island has a very limited schedule and runs out of the LaSalle Street Station where it can be very difficult to get a cab at off hours. The casino is a couple blocks from the Joliet station. I don’t know what that area around the station is like. Use a Metra weekend pass for $8.

Hollywood Casino Aurora, 1 W New York St, Aurora, IL (630) 801-1234.

Casino hours: Sunday – Thursday 8:30am-4:30am, Friday & Saturday 8:30am-6:30am.

• No free or discounted shuttles.
• Metra BNSF: The BNSF has a limited schedule and runs out of the Union Station where it can be difficult to get a cab at off hours. The casino is a couple blocks from the Aurora station. I don’t know what that area around the station is like. Use a Metra weekend pass for $8.

Rivers Casino, 3000 S. River Road, Des Plaines, IL, (888)-307-0777.

Rivers offers limited shuttle options all listed in this post.

Indiana Casino’s

Nearest Casino In Chicago

Ameristar Casino Hotel, 777 Ameristar Boulevard, East Chicago, IN (866) 711-GAME.

Casino hours: 24 hours

• Ameristar offers free and low cost transportation from areas around Chicago. More info here.

Blue Chip Casino, Hotel & Spa, 777 Blue Chip Drive, Michigan City, IN 46360, (888) 879-7711.

Casino hours: 24 hours

• Free shuttles from the Museum Campus/11th Street Station (between Columbus & Michigan Avenue) on the Metra Electric/South Shore. 7 days a week, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Must contact them at least 2 hours in advance for shuttle at (219) 861-4840 or at the Valet Station in the casino.

Horseshoe Casino Hammond, 777 Casino Center Dr., Hammond, IN (866) 711-7463 or (219)-473-7000 Press 0 for operator.

Casino hours: 24 hours

• Free shuttle bus from multiple locations around Chicago including downtown.
• They will issue you a return shuttle ticket when you get off the bus with your assigned shuttle time.
• If you lose your return shuttle ticket you mys pay $20 for a replacement ticket.

Majestic Star Casino and Hotel I &II, One Buffington Harbor Dr., Gary, IN 46402 (888) 225-8259.

Casino hours: 24 hours

• There is no way to get there from downtown Chicago unless you drive. The casino has a shuttle that departs from Chinatown, 2743 S. Wentworth.

The north and east sides of Chicago might feel slighted. A list has narrowed possible new Chicago casino sites to the south and west sides of town.

Lawmakers have five potential locations in their sights now. Those decision-makers are still a long way off from making a choice, however.

Details on the new Chicago casino site selection

According to the Chicago Tribune, Chicago mayor Lori Lightfootmade five suggestions for the site. Those sites defined the parameters for analysis by Union Gaming Analytics.

The five locations are:

• Harborside
• Michael Reese
• Pershing and State
• Roosevelt and Kostner
• US Steel

The proximity to Indiana casinos and transportation options were just a few factors that went into the study. Additionally, it looked at:

• Aldermen support
• Crime levels
• Household income
• Population density

Although some sites had distinct advantages in some factors, a clear winner is hard to distinguish.

How the five casino sites stack up

Pershing and State wins the transportation option, as its proximity to Guaranteed Rate Field creates natural traffic flow and offers many public transportation options. The drawback, however, is that the local alderman objects to the casino being placed in her ward.

The lack of alderman support is also a drawback for Michael Reese. That area boasts the lowest crime rate of the five potential locations, however, and a strong population density.

Harborside actually has the support of the local alderman, but it brings the lowest population density of the five sites to the table. It’s also the closest location to Indiana casinos, giving it competition nearby.

Roosevelt and Kostner is the site closest to the most affluent parts of the city. It’s also the furthest from Indiana casinos. It has the highest crime rate of the five by a large margin, however.

US Steel also does not have alderman support and is the worst of the five for transportation options. There is no CTA “L” link to the area, and even by bus, some walking would be required.

As none of the sites check all the boxes, options for the casino are still wide open.

A sixth possibility for a Chicago casino: None of the above

The final landing spot for the casino isn’t by any means bound to Lightfoot’s proposals. Downtown Chicago is still a possibility. That would make sense as far as putting the casino in the most affluent part of the city goes.

There are other concerns, however. Because of the proximity of Indiana casinos and Rivers Casino, the Chicago region is already considered the third-largest gambling market in the US.

That makes market saturation a legitimate worry. Indiana gaming companies are already working to compete for gambling dollars in the region by building a new casino in Gary.

Nearest Casino To Downtown Chicago Downtown

The Union Gaming Analytics report will have a lot to say about the chances of a new mega-casino in Chicago being successful. If the forecast is positive, it could include one of the five sites proposed by Lightfoot.