New Aurora Hollywood Casino location next to Chicago Premium Outlets set to open in June

AURORA, Ill. (WLS) -- Starting this summer, the Hollywood Casino in Aurora is moving from its riverboat home onto dry land.

It's expected to open in June next to the Chicago Premium Outlets.

ABC7 went behind the scenes Thursday to get a first look inside.

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It is just a few miles down the road from the river-based Hollywood Casino, but the new land-based Hollywood Casino is really a different world with plenty of attractions that have nothing to do with gambling.

The event space is filled currently with racks of uniforms for new employees at the casino. Eventually, the space will host everything from concerts to wedding receptions. But for now, it is concentrated on outfitting about 800 employees who will work at the complex, about twice as many as who work on the riverboat location.

"We are a full destination property now," said Jaime Williams with Hollywood Casino. "So you are coming to see a show now not just go to the casino. Enjoy the spa and great food."

The riverboat casino in downtown Aurora will close when the new location opens. It will be torn down and turned over to the city for development.

"The old property served us well," Hollywood Casino general manager Greg Moore said. "It's been there over 30 years now. It was designed to just be a casino. This is a full on entertainment complex."

With restaurants from celebrity chefs like Giada De Laurentis, who is opening Sorella by Giada, and Lucky Goat by Stephanie Izard, they expect to draw visitors from around the the state and even throughout the Midwest.

A hotel on the site includes 226 upscale guest rooms, a full service spa and outdoor entertainment area. Although, if you're looking for the fourth floor in the hotel, you're out of luck.

"Turns out in some cultures four is not a lucky number," Moore said.

But, if you're looking to get married Las Vegas style, you're in luck. Moore is also an ordained minister, ready to officiate the ceremony.

All of the other attractions though are designed to complement the gaming, which is still the engine which drives the property.

"While they're here they'll decide, 'maybe I'll try my luck,'" Moore said. "They may not be a lifelong gambler, but it'll be a fun thing they did after eating lemon spaghetti."

They expect to have the grand opening for the casino in just over a month, on June 24, but they are already booking reservations for the event center and hotel rooms.