Gambling Boats In Joliet Il
The new Illinois Gambling Act of 2019 allows online sports betting in Illinois, although it does not legalize other types of online casino games or online poker. Since 2012, the Illinois Lottery has provided residents and visitors to play Powerball, Mega Millions and other games from their computers or mobile devices. 2300 Empress Drive, Joliet, IL, United States, 60436 +1 888 436 7737. Email Location - Empress Joliet Casino Boats.
Joliet’s centerpiece is the old prison, an intimidating penitentiary palace famously loathed by Jake and Elwood. The city and the prison have a shared history. But there is a little more to the city beyond simply housing the now-closed Illinois State Penitentiary, namely gambling. Joliet has two of the best casinos in Illinois in Harrah’s and Hollywood. If you’re a midwestern casino enthusiast, Harrah’s is worth a visit if you’re looking to add to your chip collection.
Harrah’s Joliet is south of Chicago, just over 30 miles and 50 minutes away from Midway Airport. Because of Illinois law, Harrah’s is a riverboat casino on the Des Plaines River. In Illinois, we pronounce the ‘s’ at the end of Des
Rooms
It’s a shame that these rooms are many visitors’ first impression. They’re impressively large for such a modest hotel, but they’re in serious need of a refresh. Chipped furniture, peeling wallpaper, and a multitude of scratches paint the space. My room was actually very clean, but these imperfections make the room feel cheap. Louvered bathroom doors only further degrade the accommodations. The tawdry shower soap dispensers don’t help either.
Still, it’s comfortable. My bedding was tidy and plush. Hallways noise was a non-issue. I dare say that I enjoyed my stay quite a bit, despite my room’s painfully non-premium characteristics.
What the
Casino
And as for that casino. Harrah’s Joliet is certainly not a sprawling mega-resort like its sisters in Vegas, but the floor is impressive by riverboat standards. You may have to jostle for position at the tables during peak weekend hours, but that’s to be expected. Limits are standard for Illinois casinos. $10 blackjack and craps are staples. For other low roller options, Hollywood Casino Joliet is only about a 12-minute drive away. My group played some $5 craps at midday on a Saturday at Hollywood. There are all manner of slots at the expected denominations at Harrah’s. I’m not much of a slot player, but they seem to have a small collection of the newer, licensed machines. For those looking to be
Dining
Harrah’s Joliet’s dining options are what you would expect for a casino and hotel of this tier. The buffet is unremarkable but does its job. There’s a casual grill I didn’t try which serves standard American fare. A standout in both service and dishes is the steakhouse, The Reserve. Maybe it was unfair of me to not expect much from Harrah’s’ only upscale option, but The Reserve absolutely delivered. I had the New York Strip which was cooked to perfection. Our server was prompt and patient, even cutting individual checks for all members in our very large group. Relaxing with amazing people with a fine steak and a good cocktail after a fun day of gambling is pretty much the perfect way to round out a day.
I wasn’t expecting Harrah’s Joliet to blow me away. It didn’t. It did, however, provide a great reminder of how casino customer service should be done. Harrah’s Joliet likely won’t replace my or your Vegas or AC vacations, but it can certainly be a great place to scratch a gambling itch between trips.
- Room
- Service
- Casino
- Amenities
- Low roller friendly
TFB Takeaway
A nice little gambling retreat south of Chicago. Rooms need an upgrade, but stellar service makes an overnight stay worth a drive.
You already know you can earn at every turn and cash in on great rewards with mychoice®. Now, you can also get real-time updates on your account with the all-new mychoice rewards loyalty app. Plus, get $10 mycash® and 5M credits to play for fun at mychoice casino when you download the app today!
Gambling Boats In Joliet Illinois
The rewards program that lets you earn tier points and mycash while you play, dine, and shop now gives you access to your tier status, exclusive rewards, special offers, and mycash balance all in one place – instantly.