By Devese “Dee” Ursery
FanDuel Sportsbook and Horse Racing, formerly Fairmount Park, is bringing a casino to the race tracks.
Accel Entertainment, the new owners of FanDuel, will be introducing a temporary casino with an opening date planned for early May.
The temporary casino will house a healthy mix of games, including some of the newer slot machine themes and some of the most exciting games that are on the market, according to the Senior Vice President of US. Gaming and General Manager at FanDuel Vince Gabbert.
“We’ve also got electronic table games as well as video poker,” Gabbert said. “Even though the temporary casino is a little bit limited, a more limited environment as far as size. We’ll have great variety and plenty of opportunities for entertainment.”
The goal for Accel will be to have a temporary casino running and the 150-person restaurant finished this spring, said Gabbert.
“There will be a number of food options, at the track with daily food offerings through our concession stands and through our bar, which will be in the casino,” Gabbert said. “We will have a stand alone restaurant that will be able to service both casino guests and other folks as well.”
The stand alone restaurant will be called Long Shots, with an opening date planned for the middle of May. The other food offerings will be open when racing starts on the 22nd of April.
With this being the race track’s 100th year of existence, Accel plans a total facelift with renovations and upgrades to the entire institution costing approximately $100 million.
“We’re really just getting started, we’re trying to build it up for the next 100 years, to be honest with you. We got a lot of great plans in place. We’re excited about where the racing is headed,” Gabbert said. “We feel like the casino will provide a much needed boost to the breeding and the racing industry here in illinois. We’re excited about what this anniversary means and what we’re building to continue on.”
Toward the end of 2025 or start of 2026, Accel will demolish the current clubhouse, where the main casino will be built over the next three years. When complete, the casino will have slots, electronic table games — and, of course, a place to bet on the ponies and other sports.
Under the state law passed in 2019 that allowed for the creation of “racinos” — race tracks with casinos — Collinsville and the surrounding communities will receive more than $3 million in annual revenue through an admissions and gaming tax.
“We think it’s going to be a boon to our community and the Metro East at large,” said Collinsville City Manager Derek Jackson.
The 2019 state law allows for a 5% electronic gaming tax. Collinsville gets 40% of the tax revenue generated at Fairmount, and East St. Louis and Alton, which have existing casinos, will get 30% each. For the admissions tax, 10 other surrounding committees will get 10 cents per visitor.
“I think it is a testament to not just the sport itself, but also for the community,” Gabbert said. “I think it’s extremely meaningful that you got something that’s been able to hang in there for 100 years.”
While the last couple of years at the track might not have been the greatest in its history from an overall investment, according to Gabbert. As for racing, I think that it’s a testament to the community’s support that we have to be able to celebrate 100 years and really have some momentum going forward.
Gabbert said they’re planning on doing some concerts and holding various types of special events.
“We’re looking forward to getting the racing season open and we’re very appreciative of the community’s support and patience as we’ve done the build,” Gabbert said. “We want to deliver a safe, secure and fun and clean atmosphere for everyone to come out and enjoy the property.”
