Rockford Casino sees record number of visits in July
By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — Rockford Casino had a record number of visits to A Hard Rock Opening Act in July and it took in its second-highest monthly revenue, according to newly released data from the Illinois Gaming Board.
The casino at 610 N. Bell School Road totaled 44,873 admissions last month, topping its previous high of 41,673 during its first month of operation in November.
Its gross receipts totaled more than $4.9 million, according to state data. That’s second to the $5.1 million it took in during April.
Related: A Hard Rock Opening Act plans to expand its offerings with more ways to test your luck
The casino has now taken in nearly $39 million during its first nine months of operation from November through July, and it has generated nearly $2.3 million in tax revenue for the city of Rockford.
“We’re extremely happy with the performance of The Opening Act,” Geno Iafrate, president of the Rockford Casino, said in an interview with the Rock River Current last week.
Related: What’s the status of Hard Rock breaking ground in Rockford? Here’s the next steps
The temporary casino opened its doors on Nov. 10, and Hard Rock is working toward breaking ground on its permanent resort later this summer.
Hard Rock submitted its request to proceed with construction on July 26, according to the Illinois Gaming Board, and that request is under review.
“We’re still anticipating that we’ll get that response back from the IGB in short order, and we still anticipate a ceremonial groundbreaking by the end of the summer,” Iafrate said in the interview last week.
The casino is also working on plans to add live table games and sports betting to its temporary site.
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on Twitter at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas.
