Industry consultants say the new casino is a sure bet to succeed, even in a soft economy that has squeezed gambling dollars across the state in recent years. Sitting on one of the more desirable gambling sites in the country outside Las Vegas and Atlantic City, Rivers Casino is positioned to draw not only customers from other casinos, observers say, but newcomers from Chicago and the suburbs, conventioneers, and travelers passing through nearby O'Hare International Airport. That is what the owners of Rivers Casino are betting on when it opens Monday, and what other casino operators are trying to head off. 'If I like this casino, I probably won't even go to Harrah's anymore,' she says. But now that the Rivers Casino is opening in nearby Des Plaines, she's ready to change her loyalties. For the 55-year-old school lunch supervisor, it's a fun little getaway from her home in Northlake. As a frequent customer, she occasionally gets a free meal or hotel room. Once a month, Stephanie Klinger drives an hour to Harrah's Joliet casino, sits in front of the slots with her husband, has a few laughs, and spends about $300.
