[1] The plan called for a greater emphasis on the Des Plaines riverfront, including the construction of a slip for riverboat gambling, which had been legalized by the state earlier that year.

Early discussions were held between Joliet and Harrah's, operator of casinos in Nevada and Atlantic City,[2] but it was Missouri hotel developer John Q. Hammons who moved forward and was awarded the gaming license.

[4] Harrah's Joliet launched its first boat on May 4, 1993, a 210-foot yacht named the Northern Star, with 500 slot machines and 40 table games.

[7] After state law was changed to allow riverboat casinos to remain permanently docked, instead of cruising every two hours,[8] Harrah's replaced its boats in 2001 with two joined barges, with 40,000 square feet of gaming space with 1,138 slot machines and 31 table games.

[9] In October 2017, Caesars Entertainment (formerly Harrah's) transferred its 80 percent ownership stake in the property to Vici Properties as part of a corporate spin-off; Caesars continued to operate Harrah's Joliet under a lease agreement.