American Place Casino Adds Poker as Full House Accommodates Requests

American Place Casino Adds Poker as Full House Accommodates Requests

A 75K-square-foot tension membrane casino with 1,000 slot machines, 50 live-dealer table games, and a Circa Sportsbook, The Temporary by American Place in Waukegan has added live poker.

In February 2023, Full House Resorts, located in Las Vegas, debuted The Temporary by American Place.  With gross gaming revenue up 27.5% in the fourth quarter and more than 42% year over year in 2024, Full House has seen tremendous success.

Many customers expressed a desire for poker games to be offered, so Full House complied by opening the six-table Harbor Poker Room.  Every day from 9 am to 2 am local time, Texas Hold'em and Omaha poker games are played.

"It’s not a huge part of what we do, but it was something we planned for the permanent [casino],” Jeff Baninksi, vice president and general manager of American Place, said of poker. “We heard from our guests that it was something they would like to see. So, we decided not to wait.”

The Circa Sportsbook is close to the six poker tables.  Bravo Poker Live allows you to book a seat online. 

One of the most played table games in casinos and online is still poker.  According to estimates, 60 million American people play poker at least once a year.


A Successful First Year

Once the $500 million complex is completed, the Temporary will be replaced by the larger, permanent American Place Casino Resort, which Full House plans to open in August 2027.

The first year of the Temporary was a success.  In 2024, American Place made $109.7 million in revenue, which translated into $29.4 million in adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization.

In 2024, American Place brought in $109.7 million, or 37% of Full House's total revenue.  Other properties in Full House's portfolio include Chamonix Casino Hotel & Bronco Billy's Casino in Cripple Creek, Colorado; Rising Star in Indiana; Silver Slipper in Bay St. Louis, Missouri; and Grand Lodge Casino in Incline, Nevada.

 

A Permanent American Location

After the Forest County Potawatomi Tribe of Wisconsin, an unsuccessful bidder for the Waukegan casino license granted by state legislation in 2019, sued the Illinois Gaming Board and the City of Waukegan, the construction of American Place was stalled in court for years.

The tribe said in its 2021 case that its offer for the commercial casino was not given due consideration.  Full House Resorts was recognized as the successful bidder for the Waukegan gaming license in January 2025 after the Illinois Supreme Court unanimously decided against the tribe in a case that had made it all the way to the state's highest court.

The following month, Full House started building the permanent American Place project again.  Advertised as a posh resort with "upscale gaming" for the "most discerning players," American Palace

The Mansion, a 150-room luxury hotel, will have 100 tables, 1,640 slots, and 20 ultra-exclusive VIP villas.

“Similar in character to the most exclusive accommodations in Las Vegas, The Mansion will accommodate guests in private villas ranging from 1,500 to 2,500 square feet,” the American Place Casino website reads.

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