Hard Rock Casino Rockford welcomed nearly 1 million admissions in ’24, rakes in $97.6M

By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — Hard Rock Casino Rockford welcomed nearly one million admissions and raked in close to $100 million in 2024, according to new data from the Illinois Gaming Board.

The casino took in $12.1 million in total gaming revenue in December, its second highest monthly total behind $13.7 million in its first full month in business in September, according to data released Wednesday.

Related: Rockford OKs 9 ways to spend $7M in guaranteed Hard Rock Casino Revenue

Year-end data shows Hard Rock took in $97.6 million in 2024, about half of which it brought in after the casino opened at 7801 E. State St. on Aug. 29. It had operated at its temporary facility on Bell School Road from Nov. 10, 2021, until Aug. 12.

“We waited decades to get a casino, and we were able to finally land that,” Mayor Tom McNamara said on the This Week in the Stateline podcast. “Today you have more than 900 jobs at Hard Rock, average wage of $51,000.”

The casino also had 949,475 admissions in 2024, with more than half coming since September. It had nearly 118,300 admissions in December, the new data shows.

Comparatively, the casino took in $69.1 million in total revenue in 2023 from 613,000 admissions.

Hard Rock jumped from ninth to second among total revenue and admissions to the state’s 15 casinos when it opened in September.

Related: Rockford-area musicians, regional bands keep Hard Rock rocking multiple nights a week

Only Rivers Casino Des Plaines, which is a couple miles from O’Hare International Airport, has brought in more revenue and visitors since Hard Rock’s opening in September.

Rivers Casino had more than 264,000 admissions and brought in more than $43 million in December. It reaped $516 million throughout 2024 with more than 3 million admissions.

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The casino generated $5.8 million in local taxes in 2024, with Rockford receiving 70% of the revenue. Winnebago County receives 20% and 5% goes to both Loves Park and Machesney Park, per the terms of a revenue-sharing agreement. It also generated $18.9 million in taxes for the state.

Going forward, the city of Rockford receives a guaranteed $7 million from Hard Rock each year.

Related: Hard Rock and local leaders say there’s no need to fear a Beloit casino – but for different reasons

City Council members approved nine ways to spend the money in the first year. That money goes toward the Rockford Promise scholarship program, which provides free tuition to select colleges for qualified Rockford high school graduates. The money also goes toward spurring economic development in high-risk neighborhoods, pension relief, police and fire capital expenses, and support for the BMO Center, Coronado Theatre and Davis Park, among other initiatives. (See a breakdown HERE.)

The casino features nearly 1,300 slot machines, 50 live table games, a poker room, a sportsbook, seven restaurants, a shop for Hard Rock merchandise, roughly 150 items of memorabilia on display and a 1,600-seat Hard Rock Live entertainment venue.

This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas