Waukegan: $302 Million Permanent American Place Casino Breaks Ground Wednesday
Full House Resorts breaks ground Wednesday on a $302 million permanent American Place Casino in Waukegan. The Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired facility will be twice the size of the current temporary casino and is expected to open in approximately two years.
A three-year promise turns into shovels in the dirt
Full House Resorts is breaking ground on a $302 million permanent casino in Waukegan this Wednesday. The ceremony takes place at 10:00 AM at 4011 Fountain Square Place, according to a press release issued Monday.
The temporary American Place Casino has operated on the same site since February 2023. The permanent facility rises on the 42-acre parcel immediately east of the current structure. That is the end of the temporary era.
Twice the size, Wright-inspired design
The new building will be roughly twice as large as the temporary facility. It is designed in the style of Frank Lloyd Wright, the architect born in Wisconsin and based in Chicago for most of his career.
The gaming floor expands significantly. The permanent casino will feature approximately 1,300 slot machines and 80 table games. That represents a 40 percent increase in slots and an 85 percent increase in table games compared to the current location, according to the press release.
Dining options also expand. The permanent facility will include a fine-dining steakhouse, a high-energy restaurant and sports bar, and a food hall showcasing local chefs, the release said.
Hundreds of jobs, two years to open
"Three years ago, we opened our doors in a temporary facility and promised the Waukegan community something bigger. Today, we're moving ahead to deliver on that promise."
— Jeff Babinski, Vice President and General Manager of American Place Casino
Babinski said the permanent facility will create hundreds of new jobs. He did not specify an exact number.
Daniel R. Lee, Chief Executive Officer of Full House Resorts, said the company is beginning construction while long-term financing arrangements are still being finalized. Early construction stages can be funded through existing resources and cash flows, according to Lee.
"By starting construction now, we hope to open the permanent American Place in approximately two years."
— Daniel R. Lee, CEO of Full House Resorts
The construction team
Two firms are leading the build:
- Power Construction, one of the largest Chicago-based construction firms, which has built many of the city's iconic structures over the past century
- Powers & Sons Construction, a minority-owned firm from Gary, Indiana, that helped build the temporary American Place facility
The design firm is WATG, which describes itself as a leader in integrated luxury hospitality design, according to the press release.
Waukegan's revitalization chapter
The project is positioned as a major step in Waukegan's economic revitalization. Mayor Sam Cunningham is scheduled to speak at the groundbreaking ceremony alongside Lee and Babinski, according to the release.
American Place Casino opened its temporary facility on February 17, 2023. It currently operates more than 900 slot machines, a sportsbook, four full-service restaurants, and a poker room. The Chicago Tribune named it a Top Workplace and Culture Excellence honoree in both 2024 and 2025, according to the press release.
The permanent facility is located near Chicago's North Shore, approximately 30 minutes north of O'Hare International Airport and 60 minutes south of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the release said.