Joliet, IL Rumors are beginning surface that Harrah’s will be opening an eight table poker room in January. Since acquiring the WSOP name Harrah’s has been committed to having poker rooms at all their properties. Over the past few years Harrah’s had lobbied lawmakers to increase gaming positions at Illinois casinos. Harrah’s had plans to open a 20+ poker room in Joliet until lawmakers passed laws allowing business to have slot machines.
Illinois has been experiencing a boom in casino poker rooms during the past few years. To combat declining revenues casinos have been opening small poker rooms. Harrah’s Joliet will be the state's seventh poker room, a notable increase from having just three rooms in 2007. Illinois had experienced an odd trend with state poker room revenues increasing every year since the start of the recession.
Empress reopening to Hollywood Joliet is set for December 28th. Walking through the halls of the site of biggest fire in Joliet history, you can now see the new look of Hollywood Joliet. Elgin with Grand Victoria was the state's leading city for poker room revenues. Joliet, with Harrah’s and Hollywood, could challenge Elgin for top honors.