Wind Creek Chicago Southland opened last year, and now, a total of 43 towns across the south and southwest suburbs of the city have each collected $118,154 in casino revenue, while two others have received significantly more.
Wind Creek Pays Many Towns and Suburbs Around Chicago
Many of the municipalities are underfunded and rely on the casino revenue to support their pension plans, according to East Hazel Crest Village President Thomas Brown. He noted that the casino likely helps attract additional businesses as well.
State law requires that 5% of the casino’s revenue be shared with local communities. Of that amount, 2% is divided between East Hazel Crest and Homewood, the two municipalities that host the casino. Although Wind Creek sits primarily in East Hazel Crest, its parking garage lies within Homewood’s boundaries. The remaining 3% is distributed equally among 43 municipalities monthly. The funds may be used only for capital improvement projects or pension obligations.
Flossmoor, one of the 43 municipalities receiving funds, is directing its share toward road resurfacing projects. From a municipal perspective, Flossmoor officials are pleased with the revenue and the fact that it has exceeded initial expectations, Mayor Michelle Nelson said. She added that while the funds may not stretch as far as some might assume, they remain a welcome boost.
According to Nelson, the money is earmarked for infrastructure needs, particularly road work. Repaving a mile of road, and repairing its sidewalks and curbs, can cost up to $500,000, she explained. Although about $100,000 does not cover a large portion of that cost, it still allows the village to resurface nearly a quarter of a mile and address the accompanying sidewalk repairs.
Wind Creek Continues to Grow
It’s only been one year since Illinois granted Wind Creek its license, but the venue has quickly secured a dominant place among Illinois casinos. An overview of monthly revenue reports from the Illinois Gaming Board, covering November 2024 through October 2025, showed Wind Creek with $186,677,513 in gross revenue. This ranks it second among the state’s 16 casinos and trailing only Rivers Casino Des Plaines, which reported more than $500 million in adjusted gross receipts during the same period.
Wind Creek also ranked second in annual attendance, drawing 2,094,206 visitors compared with Rivers Casino’s just over 3 million. The property has already grown since opening, with its hotel welcoming guests beginning in April. According to Brown, the casino also plans to add an event center and host concerts, a move expected to generate additional tax revenue.