According to a report, Illinois' Hawthorne Racecourse is making an unprecedented bid to acquire the state's 10th casino license. A $500 million entertainment destination is part of the proposal, and so is Mike Ditka.

Thetimesonline.com has reported that Ditka, the former NFLer, is a celebrity pitchman for the proposal.

The ownership group of Hawthorne Horse Race Park is partnered with Altium Development Group and Merit Gaming Group, the latter two both leaders in casino and retail development and management, to redevelop the use of the 136-acre real estate holdings located between Cicero and Laramie Avenues, just a stone's throw from Midway Airport.

Th report states that the proposed entertainment destination would include the following attractions:

• 40,000 sq. ft casino
• 1,150 slot positions
• 50 table games and a poker room
• 300-room casino hotel and conference centre
• 140,000 sq. ft entertainment district
• 8-12 restaurants
• A multi-screen movie theater
• 25,000 sq. ft. bowling lounge
• 150,000 sq. ft. water park resort with 400 all-inclusive suites
• 4,800 seat outdoor subterranean amphitheatre

To read thetimesonline.com article in its entirety, click here.

(With files from thetimesonline.com)