In May 2023, the Golden Nugget Danville Casino opened to much acclaim, becoming a significant success right from the start. The venue’s operator is already contemplating the addition of a hotel, though the possibility of introducing a retail sportsbook seems less promising.
At an event commemorating the casino’s first anniversary in Danville, Illinois, General Manager Jahnae Erpenbach reaffirmed that incorporating a hotel is still part of the long-term strategy. However, she emphasized that evaluating demand is vital before committing to substantial investments in the property, which stands as one of the state’s newest gaming establishments.
“We need to make sure we balance the demand in our ability to do that,” Erpenbach commented during the celebration.
The casino is a collaborative effort between the Wilmot family and Tilman Fertitta, whose company, Fertitta Entertainment Inc. (FEI), owns the Golden Nugget brand.
Despite the absence of a hotel, the Golden Nugget Danville has made a robust debut. At the anniversary event, President Jimmy Wilmot discussed the venue’s financial contributions to local coffers. Since its inauguration, the casino has generated $2.8 billion in gaming taxes, $350,000 in property taxes, $402,000 in sales taxes, and an additional $45,000 in food and beverage taxes for Danville. Further, the casino has paid $5.6 million in taxes to the state of Illinois and purchased $420,000 worth of products from local businesses.
These financial contributions are significant for Danville, a city that had been hoping the gaming venue would help alleviate its public pension liabilities. Wilmot also noted that about half of the casino’s visitors have come from outside Illinois, underlining its regional draw.
This out-of-state interest is critical because the Golden Nugget Danville competes with Churchill Downs’ Terre Haute Casino Resort in Indiana, which opened an hour’s drive away in April 2023. Erpenbach acknowledged that the Indiana venue had some initial impact on the Golden Nugget but stated it would not affect the long-term plans in Danville.
Regarding the potential for a retail sportsbook, Erpenbach expressed hope for its future inclusion at the Golden Nugget Danville. However, this prospect appears unlikely in the near- to medium-term. This hesitation is largely due to DraftKings’ existing land-based presence in Illinois and the requirement to pay an additional $10 million license fee to operate a sportsbook at the Danville location. Given the high state taxes and the predominance of online sports betting in Illinois, such an outlay may not be economically viable.
DraftKings and Golden Nugget have an established relationship through DraftKings’ 2022 acquisition of Golden Nugget Online Gaming (GNOG), which resulted in Tilman Fertitta becoming one of the largest shareholders in the online sportsbook operator.
