In the last five years, Des Plaines has transferred part of the city to a new municipal water source, begun a major drainage and road reconstruction project on South River Road, and completed a number of smaller drainage improvement projects. In 2011, city leaders decided to only spend that revenue on capital construction projects, which are controlled one-time costs – “any gambling (revenue) can fluctuate,” says Bartholomew. What remains – roughly $15 million – is split 60-40, with about $6 million going to ten of Chicago’s needy south and southwest suburbs.ĭes Plaines pockets the remaining $9 million. Then-mayor Marty Moylan and the city council shaped an agreement, sending $10 million to the state each year. In came the casino and its $25 million in annual shared revenue. The city’s aging drainage system struggled to keep up, and its Water Fund ran up a deficit of more than $2 million dealing with repairs. In the meantime, Des Plaines suffered several moderate floods when the Des Plaines River crested its banks. “It’s an easy thing to push off for one year.” “We had neglected capital expenditures,” says Bartholomew, who joined city government in 2011.

“Those things definitely needed attention.”īartholomew and other officials in Des Plaines say their community was not necessarily “struggling” after the economic recession of 2008, but there were challenges. “This casino allowed us to get back on course with our water mains, our sewers and road work,” says city manager Michael Bartholomew. You want a sign that Des Plaines is a casino town? Look for the orange traffic cones and construction sites. That’s despite Des Plaines’ sharp lack of wedding chapels, street performers and giant, flashing signs.

With its quiet, historic main street and lack of downtown nightlife, Des Plaines will never be confused with Las Vegas or Atlantic City, y et it plays host to the very wealthy Rivers Casino: the most profitable gambling hall in Illinois and, per capita, one of the most successful casinos in the United States. It is the home of a school building which provided the backdrop for iconic films, like Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and The Breakfast Club.

It is not your typical casino town.ĭes Plaines, Illinois is where Ray Kroc opened the first franchised McDonalds restaurant.

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