Casino funds to boost Rockford economy and create 100 jobs

The funding comes from two sources: an admissions tax paid on each visitor to the casino and a tax on all gaming transactions. The city is guaranteed $8.7 million annually from its host community agreement with Hard Rock, which has established the framework for spending these casino funds.

At Monday’s City Council meeting, $250,000 was approved to support the restart of Rockford Brake Manufacturing, formerly known as Gunite. This funding is expected to create more than 100 jobs in the community.

“We specifically set money aside in the casino fund to allow to be used for economic development. We felt like this was a really great cause; it’s a very important business to our community,” said Gabrielle Torina, 5th Ward Alderman.

The council also reviewed two other development projects for potential funding from casino revenue: a new McDonald’s on West State Street and a convention project for the Rockford area. These projects reflect the city’s strategy of reinvesting casino funds back into the community to stimulate economic growth.

Illinois casino expansion

Illinois’ casino industry expanded significantly in 2025, fueled by new venues and the full-scale launch of Hard Rock Casino Rockford. Statewide gambling losses climbed to $1.9 billion, underscoring the sector’s economic weight. Rockford’s Hard Rock quickly established itself as a top-three casino in Illinois, driven largely by strong slot machine performance, while table games lagged slightly behind expectations.

Hard Rock Casino Rockford:

-Completed its first full year at the permanent location.

-Generated $146.2 million in gaming revenue after payouts.

-December alone brought in $11.8 million.

-Revenue was 50% higher than 2024, when operations were still at the temporary site.

-Slot machines were the biggest driver of revenue, exceeding expectations, while table games performed slightly below forecasts.

Other new casinos:

Facilities like Wind Creek Casino in East Hazel Crest had their first full year of operations in 2025, contributing to the overall growth.

Statewide performance:

Gamblers lost $1.9 billion at Illinois casinos in 2025.

This marked a 15% jump compared to the $1.7 billion lost in 2024.

The industry supports 28,500 jobs and contributes over $1 billion annually to Illinois’ economy.