Ameristar Casino Hotel East Chicago

East Chicago Ameristar Casino Hotel

The Ameristar Casino Hotel East Chicago, a well-known riverboat casino in Indiana, is anchored at Indiana Harbor on Lake Michigan. Since its formal inauguration in 1997, it has been known by various names such as Showboat Mardi Gras Casino, Harrah’s East Chicago, and Resorts East Chicago.

This gambling venue boasts a 56,000 square foot space with approximately 1,300 slot machines and over 40 table games. The facility also contains a 15-story hotel featuring 288 rooms and numerous other amenities, including a sports bar and several restaurants. The unique aspect of this property is its concentration on baccarat, dedicating a whole floor solely to this popular card game. Moreover, the site also houses a Barstool Sportsbook.

Continue reading for all the information you need about Ameristar Casino Hotel East Chicago.

Ameristar Casino East Chicago details

  • Location: 777 Aldis Avenue, East Chicago, IN, 46312
  • Phone: (219) 378-3000
  • Operator: Gaming and Leisure Properties owns Penn National Gaming.
  • Operating Hours: Open 24 hours daily
  • Games in a Casino: slots, table games, and video poker.
  • Sportsbook: Yes
  • Poker: No

Ameristar Casino Hotel East Chicago

Online gambling partnerships of Ameristar East Chicago

DraftKings Sportsbook

Penn National Gaming, the operator of Ameristar Casino Hotel East Chicago, also manages its Barstool Sportsbook. Additionally, PNG collaborates with other prominent industry figures in the online sports betting realm, such as DraftKings Sportsbook. Ameristar acts as a land-based licensing partner for DraftKings in Indiana.

Ameristar Online Casino

Online and mobile sports betting may have been legalized by the state, but online casinos in Indiana remain prohibited. Nevertheless, Ameristar East Chicago provides an online social casino named MyChoice Casino (also known as mychoice casino).

Put simply, you have the opportunity to enjoy popular games and online slots in Indiana, unlocking various features, badges and more for fun. The casino belongs to the mychoice Rewards Program, a loyalty program that encompasses over 35 Penn National Gaming properties.

The Ameristar East Chicago Casino

The casino at Ameristar East Chicago spans 56,000 square feet.

This casino boasts roughly 1,300 slot machines and 43 table games, as per the latest update. Its most notable feature is a 21-table baccarat room, which takes up an entire floor of the property. High-rolling players will be thrilled by the several high-stakes tables the casino also provides.

Ameristar East Chicago frequently provides cash drawings for promotions, such as the $45,000 Jackpot Winner Drawing. Taxable jackpot winners can potentially get $3,000 in free slot play. Only one entry is permitted per jackpot.

Slot machines at Ameristar East Chicago

At Ameristar Casino East Chicago, slot denominations vary from $0.01 to $100, with around 100 different titles available for play. The casino identifies the following as their most popular slot games:

  • 88 Fortunes
  • Dragon Link
  • Lightning Link
  • Tarzan
  • Wonder 4 Tower
  • Buffalo Gold

Table games at Ameristar East Chicago

The following popular games are currently featured in the table game section:

  • Baccarat (with the option of a Dragon Bonus side bet)
  • Baccarat EZ (With available side bets for Dragon 7 and Panda 8)
  • (Including 21+3 and Top 3) Blackjack
  • Roulette (including 21+3)
  • Mississippi Stud
  • Two tables are available for EZ Pai Gow, both of which are commission-free.
  • Three Card Poker with the option for a 6-Card Bonus side bet.
  • Blazing 7s Blackjack Progressive
  • Craps (with available Sharp Shooter and Bonus Craps side bets)
  • Craps No More

The table games segment boasts numerous dedicated tables with high limits, providing extra thrill for those prepared to bet big.

Some baccarat tables at Ameristar Casino Hotel East Chicago have a maximum betting limit of $25,000, while a select few tables for blackjack, craps, roulette, and EZ Pai Gow allow bets up to $10,000. If high-stakes games pique your interest, you should reach out to the table games team at Ameristar Casino Hotel East Chicago.

The casino not only boasts the largest stadium gambling area in Chicago, but it also offers $5 blackjack, roulette, and baccarat, along with $3 craps.

The area boasts 34 interconnected play stations equipped with touch-screen displays. All the games provided are live, video, or fully automated, giving you the option to bet on a single table game or multiple games simultaneously.

The featured table games in the area include:

  • Play multi-hand blackjack live with side bets
  • Side bet baccarat live
  • Automated craps
  • Roulette with an automated feature and a side bet option
  • Multi-hand blackjack video game with side bets
  • Side bet video baccarat
  • Video poker (bar-top only)

The Baccarat Room

As mentioned earlier, a special room for baccarat is situated on the casino’s fourth floor. It offers 22 games, 21 of which are baccarat tables and one is a pai gow tiles table.

Betting ranges from a minimum of $10 to a maximum of $25,000. The facility features 16 baccarat tables with the Dragon Bonus side bet that offers lucrative prizes to fortunate players. Additionally, the room houses five EZ Baccarat tables, a fun variation of baccarat that doesn’t charge commission. This variant also provides two thrilling side bets, Dragon 7 and Panda 8.

Customers will receive a complimentary reward to enjoy the two closeby amenities, a noodle bar and a smoothie bar, after playing for 30 minutes in the Baccarat Room.

Mychoice loyalty rewards

The Ameristar Casino in East Chicago participates in the Penn National Gaming’s mychoice rewards program. This system is accessible in almost all casinos and resorts under Penn’s ownership. It operates on a tiered basis, with each level offering enhanced benefits to those who choose to join.

To start with, the program offers two kinds of points – tier points and comp points. Through earning tier points, you can advance through levels and secure improved rewards. These points are applicable across all of Penn’s properties. Conversely, comp points can be exchanged for a variety of rewards.

Tier points can be earned at Penn’s properties through playing casino games, dining, shopping, or just staying at the hotels. Here is a brief explanation on how to accumulate tier points:

  • For every $5 inserted into the slot machines, you will earn 1 TP.
  • For every $10 of coin-in in video poker, you will receive 1 TP.
  • For every $40 of coin-in, you earn 1 TP on electronic table games.
  • The variation in table games depends on the type of game, its duration, and the average bet.
  • For every $10 wagered on horse racing, you earn 1 TP.
  • At HollywoodCasino.com, you can gamble with real money – earn 1 TP for every $12 spent on slots, $25 on table games, or $60 on video poker.
  • Play for Fun at Mychoice Casino — Earn 2 Tournament Points for every $1 spent on purchasing credits.
  • For sports betting, you can earn 1 TP for every $10 you bet on straight bets, future bets, or for every $5 you bet on parlays.
  • For every $5 spent on food and beverages, you earn 1 TP.
  • For every $5 spent in retail, receive 1 TP.

This is what the tiered loyalty structure appears as:

  • Option – 0 to 999 TP
  • Advantage: 1,000 – 17,999 TP
  • Preferred TP range: 18,000 to 49,999
  • Elite – TP range from 50,000 to 199,999
  • The Owners Club – Over 200,000 TP

You can only earn comp points in casinos that participate in the mychoice rewards program. Here is how you can accumulate them:

  • The number of CPs in slot machines can vary depending on the game type, session length, and denomination.
  • Once your accounts are linked with Mychoice casino, you can start earning comp points for every purchase you make with Mychoice casino.
  • The number of CPs in video poker varies based on the type of game, denomination, and duration of play.
  • Also, the average bet, length, and type of game influence table games.
  • Present your mychoice card when purchasing food and beverages to earn points.
  • Retail – Earn points by presenting your mychoice card at the time of purchase.

You have the ability to use your CPs (also known as mycash) at any location that participates in the rewards program, including Ameristar East Chicago. Here’s the process for exchanging your mycash for rewards.

  • 1 mycash equals $2 credit at the hotel.
  • 1 mycash is equivalent to $2 dining credit in food and beverage.
  • 1 mycash at Mychoice Mall is equivalent to 2 mychoice mall credits.
  • In retail, 1 mycash is equivalent to $2 in retail credits.
  • 1 mycash equals $1 of free slot play.
  • For table games, 1 mycash is equivalent to $1 in table play.

Ameristar Casino East Chicago’s Barstool Sportsbook

The Barstool Sportsbook, found inside Ameristar’s Pavilion close to the Stadium Sports Bar, offers bettors the convenience of grabbing a drink or a bite to eat while taking a break from their sports wagering activities.

The area boasts numerous sports betting terminals and multiple HDTVs showing live games. Additionally, the property is dotted with 23 wagering kiosks.

The Ameristar East Chicago sportsbook operates from 10 a.m. till 10 or 11 p.m. from Monday to Friday. During the weekends, it opens at 8 a.m. and closes at midnight on Saturday and 11 p.m. on Sunday. Nonetheless, betting kiosks are accessible around the clock.

Betting is available for the following sports:

Professional and college sports offer a platform for betting. Bettors have a variety of sports betting markets to choose from, such as moneyline bets, futures, prop bets, spread bets, parlays, and totals.

Online and mobile sportsbook

Those betting at the Barstool Sportsbook can utilize the casino’s Bet Builder app to input their choices and wagers. After creating a betting slip, they will receive a QR code. This code must be presented to a sportsbook teller to get a valid ticket.

As mentioned earlier, DraftKings Sportsbook Indiana also partners with Ameristar Casino Hotel East Chicago.

Ameristar Casino poker room

Ameristar Casino Hotel East Chicago does not have a dedicated poker room, so the only poker options available are a few casino poker games and video poker.

East Chicago Ameristar Casino Hotel Amenities

Hotel at Ameristar Casino

The hotel provides 288 rooms, encompassing deluxe king rooms, double queen rooms, and standard guest rooms.

This is a luxury hotel offering full services and a range of amenities. These include complimentary parking, a fitness center open 24 hours, conference facilities, high-speed internet, a bar and lounge, dining options, a banquet room, and a business center.

Ameristar East Chicago is a four-star hotel that offers numerous features. These include air conditioning, a refrigerator, bath/shower facilities, a safe, a desk, room service, a flat screen TV, a telephone, an iron, a hairdryer, a wake-up service, complimentary toiletries, and VIP room facilities.

Dining

Ameristar East Chicago offers six dining options:

  • Heritage Buffet offers standard buffet dining with special offerings including prime rib and shrimp dinner, and a crab leg buffet. Additionally, they run a special promotion called ‘Forever Young’ for guests aged over 50.
  • Stadium Sports Bar & Grill features 30 flat-screen TVs and a wide variety of grill options, including the option to customize your own burgers and pizzas for $11.99.
  • Bugatti’s Steak and Pasta is a refined fine-dining establishment specializing in American-Italian cuisine, offering high-quality steak cuts and seafood options.
  • Burger Brothers offers a classic American menu that includes hamburgers, sandwiches, and similar dishes.
  • Noodle Bar – This Asian specialties bar concentrates on Pacific Rim cuisine including dim sum and congee, and also offers a make-your-own-dish option.
  • Club 38 is a VIP club which offers complimentary food and drinks, exclusively reserved for the Owners Club, Elite and Preferred members.

Indiana casinos

The History of Ameristar Casino Hotel East Chicago

Initiating operations on April 18, 1997, Ameristar Casino Hotel East Chicago was initially known as the Showboat Mardi Gras Casino. About a year later, after being acquired by Harrah’s Entertainment, its name was changed to Harrah’s East Chicago.

Resorts International Holdings purchased the property not long after and renamed it Resorts East Chicago. They also changed its address to 777 Resort Blvd, a street name and number exclusively assigned to the property.

Ameristar Casinos purchased Resorts East Chicago in 2007 and renamed it Ameristar Casino Hotel East Chicago.

In 2013, Pinnacle Entertainment purchased Ameristar Casinos, later selling the property to Gaming and Leisure Properties, who are now the current owners of Ameristar East Chicago. Despite this, Gaming and Leisure Properties has opted to lease Ameristar East Chicago back to Pinnacle, along with numerous other real estate assets.

In 2018, Penn National Gaming initiated the process of acquiring Pinnacle. This included taking over the operations of Ameristar East Chicago, thereby becoming the official operating license holder.

FAQ for Ameristar Casino Hotel East Chicago

What is the minimum age to gamble at Ameristar Casino Hotel East Chicago?

According to Indiana gambling law, Ameristar Casino East Chicago requires all patrons to be a minimum of 21 years old to gamble. This age restriction also applies to guests staying in the hotel at Ameristar Casino.

Can I play real money online casino games on the Ameristar Casino app?

Currently, real money online casinos aren’t legal in Indiana, but there might be developments on this soon. In the meantime, Ameristar is offering guests the opportunity to play casino games on the mychoice casino app. Although this is a social casino that doesn’t involve real money, players can still earn mychoice loyalty rewards. Indiana residents also have the option to play online casino games on various social and sweepstakes apps.

How far from Chicago is Ameristar Casino Hotel East Chicago?

The Ameristar Casino in East Chicago is only a 30-minute drive from Chicago. Three other casinos in Indiana are located in the northwest corner of the state, not far from Chicago. These include the Blue Chip Casino Hotel Spa in Michigan City, the Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana in Gary, and the Horseshoe Hammond in Hammond.