By Sara Karnish | ©Hollywood Casino and Hotel Aurora

When it comes to choosing a venue that offers convenience, entertainment and a long list of amenities, it’s tough to beat a casino. A longtime favorite of meeting and event planners, these venues create seamless bleisure experiences for attendees as well.

“Casinos have certainly evolved in their offerings and atmosphere, and they have all the built-in amenities,” says John Groh, CEO of GoRockford. The hazy environments found in many casinos even 20 years 42 ago are long gone. Many casinos are now smoke-free, and offer meeting attendees and guests alike an exciting, bright environment conducive to learning, networking with other attendees and exploring the host city after the day’s events have wrapped.

The Midwest is capitalizing on this demand and is in the midst of a casino renaissance, with several projects slated for completion within the next 18 to 24 months.

CEDAR CROSSING CASINO & ENTERTAINMENT CENTER, CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA

The expansive Cedar Crossing Casino & Entertainment Center is a 100,000-square-foot facility with a host of amenities and entertainment options all under one roof. The venue is slated to open in mid-November.

In addition to its casino, which will feature 700 slot machines and 22 table games, its Event Center will accommodate up to 1,100 guests seated and can be rented for private events, depending upon availability.

Moreover, the Compass Center will host traveling exhibitions, artists, immersive experiences and special programs, providing another unique space for events.

After business concludes, attendees can relax and have a bite to eat, take in a show or have some laughs at Jocko’s Comedy Club.

Attendees will find plenty of dining options at the venue’s three restaurants. The Clubhouse was developed with Zach Johnson, a Cedar Rapids native and top golfer on the PGA Tour who has won both the Masters and the Open. Kim Pang, the executive vice president and general manager of Cedar Crossing, calls the restaurant “an elevated dining experience. We want people to come here not once a year, but three times a month. It’s a restaurant where you can plan an occasion.”

The Clubhouse includes a private dining room for up to 12 guests, with a menu that features a selection of locally sourced steaks and chops, local brews and cocktails.

World’s Fare takes visitors on a culinary street food adventure, from Indian street food tacos and Mediterranean wraps to Spanish churros. Pang promises the barbecue at Party Pit Smokehouse & Tap “will rival any in the area,” noting the team has asked a pitmaster from the South to bring the authentic flavor of the area to Cedar Rapids.

With so much available on site, Cedar Crossing makes it easy for both planners and attendees. “The meeting doesn’t have to end when the meeting ends,” says Pang. “We’re a casino and an entertainment destination. You can essentially have your meeting, private dinner, concert, comedy, gaming and cocktails all under one roof.” He adds the venue’s event team stands ready to help with any phase of planning.

To add another element of convenience, Cedar Crossing has partnered with other hotels in Cedar Rapids for shuttle service. If a planner is already hosting an event in other areas of the city and wants to add a trip to the casino to the itinerary, shuttle service is now available.

HARD ROCK CASINO ROCKFORD, ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS

One of the most recognized brands in both the hospitality and entertainment industries, Hard Rock brings high energy to the Midwest at the Hard Rock Casino Rockford. The company recently announced the hotel would be debuting soon, featuring more than 200 rooms, luxury suites, a spa and expanded conference space.

This expansion will essentially double the venue’s existing meeting space.

“We hope to break ground in late 2026, with the hotel expected to open in early 2028. But our existing event spaces and amenities are fully operational now,” says Lorie Moran, director of events and entertainment at Hard Rock Casino Rockford. The existing event space currently doubles as a concert venue; Moran calls the room “super versatile. We’ve had all kinds of events in there.”

She says the experienced staff at Hard Rock Casino Rockford sets it apart. “Between the sales manager and me, we bring a combined 25 years of experience in events and entertainment, and our production team has over 50 years combined experience. That allows us to anticipate challenges, understand a planner’s vision and turn it into a successful event.”

The addition of the hotel will give planners even more options. “It allows attendees to stay, meet, dine, relax at the spa and enjoy entertainment without leaving the property, and it increases the types of events we can host, like multi-day conventions,” explains Moran. “For Midwest planners, that means a more complete destination experience with fewer moving parts for planning.”

The venue already includes the casino and event space (which has two stages), numerous restaurants, including the Hard Rock Cafe, the Marketplace international food court and Constant Grind cafe. Meeting and event attendees have plenty of things to see and do, but the addition of the hotel now gives them a convenient place to stay overnight, too.

Plus, the globally recognized Hard Rock brand adds another level of excitement to any event.

“Attendees are not just going to a meeting at a casino; they are experiencing a music and entertainment destination. For Midwest planners, Rockford offers a convenient regional location with the feel of a destination property, without requiring attendees to travel to a major metro market. It gives groups a memorable setting while still being accessible for regional meetings, conferences, retreats and celebrations,” according to Moran.

She echoes a common theme: Casinos provide much more than gaming. “Planners can combine event space, catering, technology, dining and after-hours entertainment in one destination. There is something for everyone, even attendees who do not gamble. When the scheduled event ends, the guest experience doesn’t have to — the music and energy continue throughout the property.”

HO-CHUNK GAMING BELOIT, BELOIT, WISCONSIN

Construction on the Ho-Chunk Nation’s seventh location in the region, Ho-Chunk Gaming Beloit, started in 2024. The venue includes 1,500 slot machines, 44 table games, a 312- room hotel with a rooftop lounge, a 2,000-seat conference space, three restaurants and a coffee bar. The casino opened in 2025 and the hotel will open in 2027.

HOLLYWOOD CASINO AURORA, AURORA, ILLINOIS

The Hollywood Casino Aurora officially opened in June 2026 after several years of construction. The new gaming and entertainment destination includes a casino with a mix of 1,000 slot machines and table games, a luxury hotel with over 220 rooms, a full-service spa, an outdoor entertainment space and a dedicated 12,000-square-foot event center.

With so many new and expanded casino and gaming options in the Midwest, meeting and event planners have plenty of options to keep attendees engaged and excited long after the day’s agenda has ended.

Author