Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are the next steps for the Hard Rock Casino Rockford? The Rockford City Council certified the Hard Rock Casino proposal on October 7, 2019. Now the Hard Rock team is completing the Illinois Gaming Board application for a state license. The application will be submitted to the Gaming Board by the end of October, and then the Gaming Board will complete its review and approval process.

2. How long will the Gaming Board take to license the casino? Under the gaming expansion legislation, the Gaming Board has up to 12 months to review proposals and issue a license.

3. Is there a possibility that the casino won’t get approved by the IGB? This is a possibility, but the Hard Rock team is confident that our proposal adheres to all requirements outlined. And with the strong support of the Mayor, City Council and community, we feel confident the state will approve the license.

4. If licensed, when will the Hard Rock Casino Rockford open? Construction on the permanent casino can begin as soon as the state license is secured. A temporary casino will open within 90 days of state approval and will remain in operation until the permanent casino opens.

5. Where will the temporary casino be located? The temporary casino will be located within Giovanni’s Convention Center near the intersection of East State Street and Bell School Road.

6. When and where can I apply for jobs? Hard Rock cannot begin hiring or offering applications until the proposal is licensed by the Illinois Gaming Board. We encourage anyone interested in applying for a job in the future to visit www.hardrockcasinorockford.com and subscribe to our email updates. Please check the box to indicate if you are interested in potential employment or vendor opportunities, and we will track those responses. By signing up online you will receive email alerts about new developments.

Hard Rock has been named a Best Large Employer in America and a Best Employer for Women in America by Forbes Magazine. We encourage you to visit www.hardrock.com/corporate/careers to learn more about this outstanding employer.

7. Will there be jobs available at the temporary casino? Yes, if the Hard Rock Casino Rockford is licensed by the gaming board, Hard Rock will have open positions for the temporary casino.

8. How many employees does the casino plan to hire? Construction of the casino will create approximately 1,200 construction jobs, and the construction will be managed by Rockford-based Ringland-Johnson Construction. Upon opening, the permanent casino will create approximately 1,000 full-time and part-time permanent jobs.

9. How long will the construction last? Construction on the permanent casino will last approximately 18-to 24-months.

10. What kind of gaming will the Hard Rock Casino offer? The Hard Rock Casino Rockford will offer 64,000 feet of gaming space with 1,500 slot machines and 55 table games. The table games will include a variety of games such as blackjack, roulette and craps.

11. What kind of gaming will be at the temporary casino? The temporary casino will offer slot machines, but no table games.

12. Will the sports book offer horse betting? Although we will not offer horse racing, we will have one of the world’s most advanced sports betting platforms for players to enjoy onsite and mobile options.

13. What will the casino’s hours of operation be? The casino will likely be open 20-22 hours a day. Exact hours will be determined after the casino is licensed.

14. Will there be a hotel? A Hard Rock Hotel is part of the Phase 2 plan of development for the project, projected to be built approximately five years after the casino is open.

15. What kind of events will the Hard Rock Casino Rockford host?

The casino includes a 1,600-seat Hard Rock Live entertainment venue for performances that will bring in local and national entertainment acts.

16. What restaurants will in the casino? The casino will have four restaurants, four bars and one coffee shop.

• Hard Rock Cafe • Fresh Harvest Buffet • Council Oak Steaks & Seafood • Youyu Noodle Bar • Plum VIP Lounge • Center Bar • Sportsbook Bar • Council Oak Bar • Constant Grind Coffeehouse

17. How can I contact the Hard Rock Casino Rockford aside from coming to the downtown office? The best way to stay in communication with the proposed casino team is to sign-up on the website www.hardrockcasinorockford.com for alerts and updates.

18. What is Hard Rock planning to do with the space downtown? The downtown office will remain open as an information office during the duration of the Illinois Gaming Board approval process. After that, if approved, we intend to use the space as an employment and vendor opportunity center.

19. When will I be able to purchase Hard Rock Rockford merchandise? We’re just starting the state approval process and don’t yet have merchandise to sell. We will continue to send updates on new developments.

20. Will you give away more t-shirts? We are overwhelmed and thankful at the huge response to the T-shirts. We have given away more than 7,500! T-shirts are available at the downtown office, while supplies last. After that, we will no longer be regularly giving away T-shirts, but we do hope to offer fun giveaways and promotions at the downtown storefront periodically.