The legal battle over a permanent casino in Waukegan, Illinois, appears to be nearing its conclusion. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit recently ruled in favor of Full House Resorts, rejecting an appeal by the Forest County Potawatomi Tribe. This decision clears a major roadblock, allowing Full House to move ahead with its plans for a permanent American Place casino.
Legal Disputes Delay Casino Development
Full House Resorts has been operating a temporary casino in Waukegan for two years while awaiting approval to build a permanent venue. However, progress stalled after the Potawatomi Tribe challenged the city’s selection process, arguing that they had been unfairly excluded from consideration.
The Tribe filed multiple lawsuits, significantly delaying the project. However, earlier this year, the Illinois Supreme Court dismissed one of their legal challenges. Now, with the federal appeals court ruling against them, Full House Resorts can move forward with development.
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Full House Resorts Welcomes the Decision
Alex Stolyar, Senior Vice President and Chief Development Officer at Full House Resorts, expressed satisfaction with the ruling. He emphasized that the Tribe’s legal challenges lacked merit and that the company is now actively working on design plans with architects. However, he did not specify when construction would begin.
“We’re moving forward with the architects and drawings so we can get going.”
Potential Next Steps for the Potawatomi Tribe
Despite this setback, the Potawatomi Tribe still has legal options. They could request a rehearing or attempt to take the case to the U.S. Supreme Court. However, Stewart J. Weiss, legal counsel for the City of Waukegan, believes these efforts are unlikely to succeed. Weiss reaffirmed that the selection process for the casino was conducted fairly and transparently.
With legal hurdles largely out of the way, Full House Resorts is now in a position to finalize its plans for the permanent casino, bringing new entertainment and economic opportunities to Waukegan.
