Operator News
US – Greenway presents plans for new racino in Richton Park as nearby Hawthorne Race Course continues to stall
By Phil - 24 March 2023
Greenway Entertainment Group wants to develop a racino in Richton Park, Illinois, and has been in discussion with the Illinois Senate executive committee to see if it can overcome the hurdle of being within 35 miles of the competing Hawthorne Race Course.
The radius limitation was signed into law in 2019 as part of a package that introduced six new casinos statewide, including one in Chicago. Hawthorne was due to open a $400m racino at its existing track in 2021, and then in 2022, but nothing has materialised.
Greenway’s Managing Member Drew Daniels said the group had a number of wealthy ready to help fund a $300m racino project.
He said: “We urge the Illinois Gaming Board and the Illinois General Assembly to consider the loss of revenue and endless delays that the current Act permits and promote an alternative that allows this critical and meaningful revenue to commence without further inexplicable impedance.”
Richton Park Village Manager Regan Stockstell added: “The village of Richton Park is supportive of a mixed-use racino development and welcomes the opportunity in the area west of Interstate 57 along the Sauk Trail corridor. As it relates to (the bill to eliminate Hawthorne’s veto), the racino presents a meaningful economic development opportunity in the south suburbs that should be allowed to proceed.”
One of the prospective investors is Roy Arnold, former president of Arlington International Racecourse and now CEO of Endeavor Hotel Group. He explained: “The group has a viable plan,” adding of Hawthorne’s position. “We are almost four years into this and they haven’t done anything.”
