Chicago, otherwise known as the Windy City, is the third largest city in the United States. With 2.8 million people residing in the Cook County city, Chicago is located just off of Lake Michigan. Founded in 1933, the city boasts two major airports, with O’Hare ranking as the second busiest airport in the world. The city of Chicago in the year 2007 attracted 32.8 domestic visitors and 1.15 foreign visitors. Known for many things, Chicago has developed its own identity within the poker world.
Popular Casinos
Within a two hour drive of Chicago, there are six major casinos’ that offer poker rooms. The closest from the downtown area of Chicago are Hollywood Aurora, which sits just off of Interstate 88, and also Harrah’s Horseshoe, which is located just across the Indiana boarder in Hammond. The Majestic Star in Gary Indiana is off of Interstate 90, while Resorts East is in what they call “East Chicago”, in Indiana. Four Winds Casino Resort is nearing an hour drive from the Windy City, and it is in New Buffalo, Michigan. Last, but not least Potawtomi Casino is located in Milwaukee WI, just a short two hour drive from Chicago. While Chicago and Milwaukee rival each other in many professional sports – when it comes to poker, Chicago natives love to make the trek north.
Professional Players
There are many professional poker players within the city limits of Chicago. There are a great deal more from just outside the city limits in what natives call “Chicagoland”. There will continue to be more poker players from the Chicago area, because of it’s growing popularity in the city. Stanley Statwiewicz has been playing poker since he was young, and calls Chicago home. Overall Stanley has won just shy of $200,000 in professional poker. Kevin Saul is another name in poker that calls Chicago home. Saul was a regular on poker stars, BoDog, Ultimate Be, among other places with the moniker BeLOWaBove. Saul has earned just under $2 million from winnings.