The casino is preparing for its inauguration, which includes debuting a new poker room
Hard Rock Casino Rockford is getting ready to introduce its first-ever poker room as part of its new permanent facility. The casino, located in Rockford, Illinois, is set to open its doors on August 29, pending regulatory approval. This marks a significant upgrade from the temporary casino, known as Hard Rock Opening Act, which opened three years ago but did not include a poker room due to limited space.
The temporary facility was housed in a former restaurant, which meant space was tight, and there were no table games available. With the opening of the permanent casino, Hard Rock is finally able to offer a dedicated poker room, something that was missing from the temporary setup. The new poker room will feature six tables, making it one of the smaller poker rooms in Illinois but still a significant addition to the state’s gaming options.
Hard Rock Casino Rockford prepares for grand opening with iconic guitar marquee. Residents anticipate exciting entertainment destination. https://t.co/ibXGyrckLD
— 13 WREX (@13WREX) August 14, 2024
Geno Iafrate, president of Hard Rock Casino Rockford, has expressed excitement about the new facility, highlighting its beauty and the range of amenities it will offer. The poker room, while modest in size, is expected to attract poker enthusiasts from the region, particularly given Rockford’s strategic location near major interstates and its proximity to Chicago, Madison, and Milwaukee.
Although the poker room at Hard Rock Casino Rockford will be one of the smaller ones in the state, with six tables, it ties with Bally’s Quad Cities Casino & Hotel for the fifth-largest poker room in Illinois. The largest poker room in the state is located at Rivers Casino Des Plaines, which features 22 tables, followed closely by Grand Victoria Casino with 20 tables.
Hard Rock has ambitious plans for its poker offerings. The new casino is adjacent to a 23,000-square-foot entertainment venue that can accommodate up to 2,000 people for concerts. There are plans to utilize this space for large-scale poker tournaments in the future, which could further enhance Rockford’s appeal as a destination for poker players.
While the new poker room is a welcome addition, online poker is still not available in Illinois. A recent bill to legalize real-money online poker failed to pass in the state legislature earlier this year. However, efforts to legalize online poker may continue in the future, with lawmakers considering new legislation in 2025.
Emma Rodriguez is the Proofreader at the Big Blind, with seven years of experience and five years in online gambling. She plays a crucial role in maintaining content quality by ensuring error-free, reader-friendly information about the gambling industry.