Since it first opened in 1997, the Blue Chip Casino & Hotel in Michigan City, Ind., has always occupied a position in Chicago's "gaming outer limits": close enough to be included among the nine casino destinations that comprise the market yet far enough away to make gamblers think twice before making the trip.
Well, Nevada-based Boyd Gaming, which owns and operates the Blue Chip along with the Par-A-Dice Casino & Hotel in East Peoria and 17 other properties nationwide, just eliminated any excuses you may have for not going that extra mile by unveiling the largest and most comfortable casino in the greater Chicago area.
Fact is, once you reach the Chicago Skyway Toll Plaza, the Blue Chip is just 45 minutes away. And if all you remember is the old boat, which had 42,000 square feet of gaming on three levels, the new vessel with a 65,000-square foot casino all on one level will blow you away.
The ribbon-cutting for the new $170-million Blue Chip took place at 10 a.m. on Jan. 31, after which hundreds of gamblers who had been waiting in line since early morning descended on the casino floor. Within a couple of hours there were more than 2,000 people on board, prompting one slot player to quip: "Looks like they'll pay for this in one day."
The new Blue Chip is the largest single investment any gaming company has made in this market since the original developments in the '90s. What has been created is a gambling experience unlike any other in the Chicago area, not just because of its sheer expanse but also because the towering ceilings, carpeted and marble flooring, interior design and lighting give it a genuine Las Vegas casino ambience.
Despite the fact Blue Chip increased its slot inventory to more than 2,100 machines from the previous 1,700, and the table games selection from 47 to 51, the aisles are wide, giving gamblers plenty of space and room to roam. And even though there's a dedicated non-smoking section, the state-of-the-art air-quality system that continuously circulates fresh air brought in from outdoors keeps the interiors comfortable no matter where you are.
In addition to the slot and video poker machines that were moved from the old vessel, more than 500 new units were added. The entire inventory is 100 percent TITO (ticket-in/ticket-out) activated. Two full-service cashier lines are supported by 16 banking centers, with bill breaking and self-service ticket redemption kiosks conveniently located throughout the casino floor.
The main casino, which is home to a wide variety of quarter, 50-cent and dollar machines, is flanked on either side by dedicated areas filled with hundreds of penny, 2-cent and nickel games. There's a special accent on progressives for all denominations, plus a pair of "Win & Ride" dollar banks, one of which awards a new car and the other an RV for the top jackpot.
The new Blue Chip is as close to a gambler's dream as a casino built aboard a vessel will allow. It is open 24 hours, seven days a week.