Vintage Metal 10 Feet Argosy Empress Casino Joliet Measuring Tape For Sale

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Argosy Empress Casino:

• History and Opening: Built in the 1990s by a group of investors led by T.J. Lambrecht, the Empress Casino opened on June 16, 1992, as one of the first riverboat casinos in Illinois. It was not a traditional riverboat but was constructed both on land and over the Des Plaines River. The casino was known for its distinctive Egyptian theme, featuring a large replica of the Sphinx, pyramids on the roof, and faux hieroglyphics.
• Ownership Changes:
  • In 1999, the casino was sold to Horseshoe Gaming Holding Corporation.
  • In 2001, Argosy Gaming Company acquired it for $465 million, rebranding it as Argosy\'s Empress Casino.
  • Penn National Gaming acquired Argosy Gaming in 2005, taking over the casino’s operations.
• Fire and Rebranding: On March 20, 2009, a fire destroyed the casino during renovations, leading to a 97-day closure. The closure was economically significant, as the casino employed over 800 people and was Joliet’s second-largest taxpayer, contributing $837,000 in taxes to the city and $1.8 million to the state in the month before the fire. After rebuilding, it reopened on June 25, 2009, as Hollywood Casino Joliet under Penn National Gaming, abandoning the Egyptian theme for a 1920s-1930s art-deco Hollywood style. The address changed from 2300 Empress Drive to 777 Hollywood Blvd, Joliet, IL 60436.
• Features Before the Fire:
  • The casino had a 50,000-square-foot gaming floor with approximately 1,110 slot machines and 32 table games, including blackjack, roulette, and poker.
  • It included a 102-room hotel with an Egyptian-themed exterior, a pool, whirlpool, and business/conference center (closed after the fire), and an onsite RV park with a pyramid-topped entrance.
  • Amenities included a bar/nightclub, a Middle Eastern-themed coffeehouse, a gift shop, and a ballroom.
• Current Status: The Argosy’s Empress Casino no longer exists under that name. It is now Hollywood Casino Joliet, featuring over 1,000 slot machines, 40+ table games, and an ESPN BET Sportsbook with a 42-foot video wall. The hotel and RV park remain operational, though the hotel’s pool and conference center are closed, and the Egyptian theme is largely retained only in the hotel’s exterior.
• Economic and Legal Notes:
  • The casino was a major economic driver, drawing from a population of about 8 million within 50 miles. It held a 12% share of the Chicago gaming market’s revenues in 2000.
  • In 2008, it was a plaintiff in Empress Casino v. Giannoulias, challenging a tax imposed on high-revenue casinos to support the horse racing industry, arguing it was unconstitutional. The Illinois Supreme Court ruled that a tax could not be considered a taking under the Fifth Amendment.
  • A 2012 lawsuit was filed against companies involved in the 2009 fire renovations.