Illinois Travel Guide 2009 - (Page 42) packages). Stay at Harrah’s hotel, located along the Des Plaines River in downtown Joliet. The largest Chicagoland casino is Hollywood Casino in Aurora, offering 53,000 square feet of gaming space decorated with real movie memorabilia. The Hollywood Hills High Limit Slots area features 100 slots with $1, $5 and $25 denominations. Table games include the Live Poker Room, offering Texas Hold ’Em seven days a week. Enjoy dinner in a glam 1940s Hollywood setting at Fairbanks Steakhouse. Fairbanks was named the Best Casino Fine Dining Restaurant by readers of Midwest Gaming & Travel magazine. Grand Victoria Casino in Elgin was voted Chicagoland’s Best Casino for two years in a row by Casino Player magazine. Located on the scenic Fox River, Grand Victoria has more than 1,000 slot and video poker machines, and a variety of table games (including 15 blackjack tables). Are you a winner? Then dine like a millionaire at Buckinghams, where you can indulge in oysters Rockefeller and chateaubriand for two. End the night with cocktails and live entertainment in the Fox & Hounds bar. COURTESY OF ELGIN AREA CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU Top to Bottom: Hollywood Casino is decorated with rare movie memorabilia, the Grand Victoria Casino was voted Chicagoland’s Best Casino two years in a row, Par-A-Dice Hotel Casino offers table games and plenty of penny slots Western Illinois boasts two exciting casinos. Jumer’s Casino & Hotel in Rock Island incorporates Art Deco design details in its flashy space. The 42,500-square-foot gaming floor includes 1,100 slot machines and 24 gaming tables, as well as a poker and high-stakes slots area. The Oculus Bar lends a classy club feel and features live music nightly. Four restaurants offer everything from upscale food to a bountiful buffet. The 205-room hotel connected to the casino features 11 luxury suites. The Par-A-Dice Hotel Casino in East Peoria features a gaming facility docked on Peoria Lake. ParA-Dice was the first casino in the state to have penny slots, and it honors that tradition with Penny Lane, lined with a variety of penny slot machines. Also try the table games, including roulette and three-card poker. The Par-A-Dice Hotel offers 202 rooms, just steps away from the casino. For gaming action in Southern Illinois, head to Harrah’s Metropolis. Located on the picturesque Ohio River in the charming town of Metropolis, Harrah’s offers 1,172 classic and new slots, along with 27 table games, including a Poker Room. Harrah’s Riverfront Event Center presents live shows, including big-name entertainers and professional boxing matches. Harrah’s often offers special stay-and-play packages at its 252-room hotel adjacent to the casino. For three years in a row, the Casino Queen in East St. Louis has been recognized as having the Loosest Slots in the Country by Casino Player magazine. No doubt drawn by its liberal slot payouts, gamblers also find games that include pai gow poker and high stakes wagering with table limits from $2 to $2,000. Located along the Mississippi River in Southwest Illinois, the Casino Queen Hotel features postcard views of the Gateway Arch and St. Louis skyline from its luxurious rooms. The Casino Queen’s RV Park offers full hookups (including cable television and Internet access), along with shuttle service to the casino. Also in Southwest Illinois is the Argosy Alton, a riverboat casino docked on the Mississippi River in downtown Alton. Slots here range from penny through $100 machines. Table games include craps that boast 10x odds every day of the week. Argosy’s Music Hall regularly features music legends such as Chuck Berry, along with edgy comedians. For a panoramic view of the Upper Mississippi and Clark Bridge, dine at Argosy’s Outfitters Grill. COURTESY OF PEORIA AREA CVB 42 ILLINOIS. MILE AFTER MAGNIFICENT MILE. COURTESY OF HOLLYWOOD CASINO enjoyillinois.com http://www.enjoyillinois.com
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