As of June 11, the Illinois Gaming Board has officially granted permission to begin the construction of the temporary Hard Rock Casino in Rockford, which State Sen. Dave Syverson (R-Rockford) says is a major step forward for the casino project.

“I am very excited that the Hard Rock temporary casino structure has finally been given the green light to move forward,” said Sen. Syverson. “For more than 20 years, I have worked to bring this project to fruition, knowing that it will have such a positive economic impact locally. After so long, it is very rewarding to see this project gain real momentum.”

Construction of the temporary Rockford Casino is expected to begin later this month at the former location of Giovanni’s Restaurant and Convention Center.

“The Hard Rock brand is one of the most sought-after brands in the world, and we are so excited to have the name attached to this highly-anticipated project,” said Sen. Syverson. “We’re also extremely fortunate to have a local partner like Ringland doing the construction and ensuring we’re keeping well-paying construction jobs local.”

The temporary casino could operate for up to two years. Meanwhile, construction can begin on the permanent Hard Rock Casino that was approved as part of Senate Bill 690, the largest gaming expansion bill ever passed in the State of Illinois.

“When we began this journey, we decided, unlike some of the other applicants, to submit just a single application and it is paying off,” said Sen. Syverson. “While other applications are still pending, we are seeing real progress with the casino, and I am so grateful that we had the community support in this decision.”

Sen. Syverson says that work on the permanent site is expected to begin next year with an anticipated completion date in 2023.