State looks to Las Vegas to figure out what’s in the cards for Chicago casino

The Illinois Gaming Board has selected a Las Vegas firm to study the feasibility of a casino in Chicago, taking the first step toward bringing a long-sought gambling den to the city.

Union Gaming Analytics was selected from among three bids, two of which were disqualified because they submitted after the application deadline, the gaming board announced Friday.

Those late bids came in along an aggressive timeline set under the massive gambling expansion signed into law June 28. The state missed its first deadline by four days under that legislation, which had required that a consultant be selected by Monday.

The gaming board is still aiming to stay on track with the legislative timeline, despite the initial hiccup that officials chalked up to state procurement regulations.

Justin L. Fowler/The State Journal-Register via AP

The firm has until Aug. 12 to submit its study, assessing the financial potential of a city casino and possible locations, to the gaming board. They’ll also present it to Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Mayor Lori Lightfoot.

Ninety days after that, around mid-November, the board and city officials are expected to suggest changes to the city casino licensing process that would have to be approved with a trailer bill through the state Legislature.

Under the law, the city of Chicago is picking up the tab for the study, which can cost up to $100,000.

The board says it can start accepting Chicago license applications — which will cost up to $135 million in upfront fees — in mid-November.