Fun Chicago area casino?

I need to be in Chicago for a couple days next week and will have a free night solo. Are any of the local casinos fun on a weeknight? I'll be staying on the Magnificent Mile but don't mind cabbing up to an hour max. I'll probably play lower limit blackjack and VP but more important than good rules are just a good vibe, if at all possible on a weeknight.

Any thoughts (including whether its not even worth it)?

 

Horseshoe Hammond would seem to me to be your best bet. Its a pretty legit casino south of downtown.

 

On a weeknight? Most of the casinos are going TI be filled with hardcore gamblers and people out for promotions. I can't think of any that do live entertainment on a weeknight either. So it's usually a good time to gamble but fun atmosphere isn't exactly what you may find. That being said, Horseshoe in Hammond may be the best option. They've got a ton of positions and it's close to downtown.

 

Don't they have a shuttle that picks up downtown?

 

Thanks that's actually perfect. I forgot Horseshoe is a CET casino so at least I can get rated. I was thinking Harrahs Joliet was the only CET around there but that place sounds small.

 

I'm not sure there are any casinos within an hour drive of where you will be downtown.

I use to go to Harrah's in Joliet once in a while when I lived in the western burbs, but that's a long ways from downtown.

I can think of maybe Rivers Casino in Des Plaines (near O'Hare airport) http://www.riverscasino.com/desplaines/, The Horseshoe in Hammond, IN http://www.horseshoehammond.com/, The Ameristar in East Chicago, IN http://www.ameristar.com/East_Chicago.aspx, and The Majestic Star in Gary, IN http://www.majesticstarcasino.com/

But all of those would be a pretty expensive cab ride as well. Looks like The Horseshoe has free shuttle service from several places in the city: http://www.horseshoehammond.com/hotel/shuttles.html

 

We love Horseshoe, much more so than Joliet. Here is the shuttle info:

http://www.horseshoehammond.com/hotel/shuttles.html#.UyrerSe9KSM

There is also Rivers, which we don't like, it's pretty small. Grand Victoria in Elgin is okay. But Horseshoe is the best out of all the local casinos.

Have fun

 

I would second (third, fourth) the recommendation of Horseshoe Hammond! Best I've found in the Chicago area. It's HUGE!

The new Rivers Casino has a lot of hype but it sucks! Very few, if any, true lower-limit machines or VP. Very small!

Grand Victoria is ex$pen$ive!

There are a couple of them in Joliet which aren't too bad, but Horseshoe Hammond is the best I've found in the area.

I do want to try the nearby Ameristar, but I haven't had the opportunity yet.

 

The Horseshoe is the best (exceptional poker room), but generally the locals casinos are depressing.

 

The Horseshoe in Indiana is probably the most "fun" of the bunch. You can take a shuttle from downtown for free, and they shouldn't take longer than 10-15 minutes vs. taking a cab (plus, it won't be as easy finding a cab for the return trip). Beefcake posted the link with info above. Horseshoe has decent BJ rules and good VP paytables for the area.

Metra trains go to/from Joliet Harrahs and Aurora, both are about a 1-2 block walk from the respective train station. Train schedules are very infrequent and cut off around midnight for the return trip back. Illinois casinos are more cramped due to Illinois gaming regulations.

Rivers is the last option, accessible either via cab or via the CTA Blue Line (with 24 hr shuttle to/from the Rosemont station). I have never been to Rivers (ironically, be that I can drive there in under 10 minutes), but based on what people have told me, it is crowded most of the time with higher table limits than the other casinos.

 

I stopped by Rivers Casino a few weeks ago when I was in Chicago. I didn't really like it there. I went on a Fri./Sat. and it was packed. The baccarat tables were so crazy along with the other table games.

They had 2 security guards checking IDs with a line of 20-30 people and 2 standing there. Very inefficient.

Overall, the casino was not my favorite. Personally, I will never go back.

 

Whenever I stay on the Mag Mile in Chicago I always use the free shuttle to go gamble at Horseshoe Hammond. It's so convenient.

 

I went on those shuttle links for the Horseshoe Hammond. Some shuttles in the fine print that you must game for a minimum of 3 hours. How do they track this? Do you need a players card to bard the shuttle? Do they check your play when you return?

I'm visiting Chicago sometime over the next year. Thinking about spending a night at the casino if there's a free ride. I don't play anything but find it fun to hang out at a casino for a few hours to eat and whatnot.

I'd stay around the magnificent mile area. Which shuttle stop is best to use?

 

They looked at my players card when we arrived at the casino. I don't remember them swiping it. They give you a ticket for the return trip with a warning that if you lose it, there is a steep charge. Playing there for three hours is easy and fun.

The one I took boarded at the Hyatt Regency.

 

I missed this thread initially, but I assume OP took everyone's advice and went to Hammond.

As a craft beer alcoholic, I love this place. And decent VP at the dollar level and beyond (including full pay Ultimate X ), which OP hopefully found.

 

No, I flew in Monday and was supposed to leave Wed morning but got done earlier than expected Tues so changed my flight to leave that night. I wish I didn't because I ended up getting kind of drunk in the Delta lounge and it just made for an awful flight and commute back home, ate my only meal at around 11pm that day. I'm grateful for all the advice though because I may end up being in Chicago for a very extended time soon.