A source reports that Hard Rock Casino Rockford has added blackjack and other live table games today. This addition represents a significant milestone in the casino’s operations strengthening Hard Rock’s portfolio and complementing its offerings of slots and other electronic games with in-demand table games for the first time.
Six Tables Added:
Following the approval of the Illinois Gaming Board, the casino operator took no time to offer the most popular games to visitors. Therefore Blackjack, three-card poker, and Ultimate Texas Hold’em became available at 10 a.m. today at the Hard Rock Casino’s 37,000-square-foot gaming floor which now features a specifically designated area for table games and includes six tables: four for blackjack players and one each for three-card poker lovers and the fans of Ultimate Hold’Em game.
Geno Iafrate, president of Hard Rock Rockford, reportedly said: “Table games are really an essential part of a casino. I hate to use the phrase, but it makes it a real casino.”
Following the Customer Requests:
The addition of tables is the result of a long-time planned development within the company that followed direct guest queries rather than any extensive market research. In fact, since the casino opened almost a year and a half ago, the guests have been requesting the addition of table games. The Hard Rock Casino Rockford, located at 610 N. Bell School Road, has been operating more than 600 slots and electronic table games from the beginning.
Operating under the temporary name A Hard Rock Opening Act until the entire development is completed, the casino needed time to employ additional staff to serve table games. This first gaming floor expansion produced 20 new jobs at the facility now employing a total of around 300 people. Iafrate reportedly commented: “Since we’ve opened, the No. 1 most-requested amenity is live table games. I’ve had guests tell me directly, ‘Nice place. We’ll be back when there are table games.”
Dynamic Pricing Policy:
The casino arranged a preview of table games for VIP guests Monday with the Illinois Gaming Board monitoring the test run. Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick was the first blackjack player and he won the game, with other guests proceeding with $10 minimum bets. According to the source, the casino said that table limits will depend on demand and be subject to a dynamic pricing policy. In any case, the addition of six tables to the gaming floor will contribute to Hard Rock’s comprehensive offer tailored to customer demands.
Contribution to Local Community:
Since it opened in November 2021, the casino has generated around $73.4 million in gross revenue and more than 634,000 visitors. It also contributed to the local community with more than $4.3 million in gaming tax revenue. Mayor Tom McNamara reportedly said: “The city of Rockford has invested a lot in this partnership with Hard Rock, and truthfully Hard Rock has delivered time and time again above and beyond. They’re so community-minded that they’ve met and exceeded all our expectations.”
Hard Rock’s Iafrate reportedly added that the further casino expansion will certainly generate more jobs: “Our second Table Games Dealer School will begin soon with more to follow as we continue to add to our team.”
As Hard Rock Casino continues to add amenities and jobs to the gaming floor, the construction of the entire casino complex nearby Interstate 90 and East State Street is in progress. The project timeline is not known but it seems that Hard Rock Casino Rockford’s strategy to expand gaming facilities first to additionally finance the resort development will help complete the project earlier than expected.