Chicago City

Quiet remarkably, the nine casino riverboats in the Chicagoland region have emerged as the third largest gaming jurisdiction in the country, as far as revenues are concerned. In 2004, the nine casinos generated highly respectable revenues of $2.3 billion. Thats an amazing number, given that fewer than half of them have hotels, amenities are limited and the riverboat casinos themselves simply arent the height of comfort (as anyone whos ever been on a casino riverboat will confirm). Obviously, proximity to Chicago-most are within less than an hours drive from city limits-have turned them into some of the most successful local casinos in the country.

Another factor in the success of these riverboats is their intensely loyal customer base, and the service levels of the casinos, which are widely considered to be among the industrys highest standards. What these casinos lack in glitz and glamour, they make up for in comfort, ease of access and friendliness.

Four casinos call the Illinois region of Chicagoland home:

Grand Victoria, Argosys Empress Joliet, Harrahs Joliet and Hollywood Aurora. On the Indiana side, the larger Chicagoland riverboats are Resorts E. Chicago (formerly Harrahs E. Chicago), the Blue Chip, Horseshoe Casino Hammond, Majestic Star and the Trump Hotel Casino. The Harrahs acquisition of Caesars has been felt here, too, with the sale of Harrahs Indiana casino to Colony Capital. As in Tunica, where Harrahs also sold its property, it appears Colony is creating a brand name out 0 Resorts. (This property was, by the way, the original Showboat E. Chicago casino, which Harrahs acquired several years ago).

Of the nine casinos in the region, four stand out with the majority of flfSt-place awards. Chief among them is Resorts Chicago, but it must be remembered that when the balloting process took place, the property still belonged to Harrahs.

Most Comfortable Hotel: Harrahs Joliet

Claritys sake, weve changed the name to its current status in the survey. However, this takes nothing away from the stature of the property itself. The Colony Capital execs realize they hit a home run with their acquisition of Harrahs E. Chicago, and with the probability of a few name and logo changes, its unlikely the property will be altered in any significant way.

Not only did Resorts E. Chicago win Best Overall Hotel Casino (followed by Harrahs Joliet and Boyd Gamings Blue Chip), it picked up Best Overall Hotel, Best Overall Theme (Mardi Gras again), Most Attractive Hotel and Hotel Lobby, Best Hotel Rooms and Room Packages (definitely a vote for Harrahs marketing), Best Valet Parking, Most Comfortable Casino (it is, notably, the largest casino in the region), Best Room Comps (again, a classic Harrahs marketing strategy), Best Casino Promotions, Best High-limit Lounge, Best Poker Room and Poker Dealers, Best Roulette, Best Reel Slots and Variety of Reel Slots, and Best Slot Tournaments.

Harrahs Joliet also put in an admirable performance in the Harrahs Joliet hotel, which took second place, was the original model hotel for all Harrahs facilities outside of Nevada and New Jersey (although the new Harrahs Bayview Tower definitely incorporates aspects of Joliets efficiency and comfort). Not surprising, Harrahs Joliet won Most Comfortable Hotel, Best Hotel Suites and Hotel Service, Best In-Room Amenities and Room Service and F2stest Check-In. On the casino side, the property won Most Attractive Casino, Best Players Club and Cashback (for Total Rewards), Best Players Club Service, Best Slot Staff (if Harrahs stands out in any in the, industry-wide category, its service), Best Variety of Video Poker and Best Casino Lounge (Sevens Lounge). The three Hollywood Casinos throughout the country are owned by Penn National Gaming, and are located in Aurora, IL Shreveport, IA and Tunica, MS. The Tunica property is, by far, the largest and most extensive of the three Hollywoods, but even in Illinois, the smallest of the bunch, Hollywood, manages a respectable showing with its undisputed theme and continually changing exhibits of Tinseltown memorabilia. Perhaps even more important is Hollywoods superb Fairbanks Steakhouse, located at all three properties, with its posh decor, reasonable prices and vaguely retro feel. This year, Hollywood Aurora (which has no hotel) picked up Best Overall Casino Theme, Best Food Comps, Most Innovative and Comfortable Slot Floor, Best Video Slots and Variety of Video Slots, Best Overall Entertainment for the Chicagoland region, Best Buffet (the EpiC Buffet) and, of course, Best Steakhouse for Fairbanks.

Grand Victoria also had a particularly strong showing this year.

Although it has no hotel, it is in the upscale region of Elgin, and is also the closest casino to Chicago. Its flfSt-place award for Best Overall Casino is a triumph for the property, given the strength of its competition-being on one floor, it feels more like a Vegas property than any other in the region. Grand Victoria also picked up flfst-place awards for Best Dealers and Hosts, Best High-Limit Slot Area, Best Blackjack and Craps, Best Table-Game Tournaments, Best Variety of Table Games and Most Comfortable Bar, the pubby Vixens Den (formerly the Fox & Hounds). Rounding out our list of first-place winners is Argosys Empress Joliet for its video poker, cocktail service, coffee shop (Cafe Casablanca), parties/special events and the coveted Luckiest Casino. Special notice should also be given to its second-place winner, Alex, one of the most beautiful steakhouses in the region.