Rivers Casino Des Plaines — Attraction in Maine Township

Had the opportunity this weekend to come out to Chicago for the first time and network with my friends. There was a national trading conference occurring here. That’s why a lot of people were at the casinos.

A Perfect Spot for Business & Networking at the National Trading Conference

I had the opportunity to visit Rivers Casino Des Plaines during my recent trip to Chicago for the National Trading Conference, and I must say—this place made a lasting impression.

While many were here to unwind, enjoy a drink, or try their luck on the casino floor, my goal was strictly to network and build relationships—and this venue couldn’t have been more ideal. The energy in the building was vibrant, filled with professionals from across the country. You could feel the mix of business and pleasure in the air. Groups were huddled around the bar, discussing trades and market moves over cocktails, while others were deep into blackjack or poker, taking mental breaks from the conference hustle.

What really stood out to me was the balance Rivers Casino provides—yes, it’s a full-fledged entertainment hub, but it also serves as a powerful networking environment. I ended up making some strong connections and had conversations that could lead to new business deals and future partnerships. Whether it was at the bar, near the roulette tables, or even walking past the sportsbook, there was opportunity everywhere.

I wasn’t there to gamble—but I stayed much longer than expected because the vibe was just right. Professional, yet relaxed. High-energy, but still comfortable. The staff were courteous and helpful, the drinks flowed smoothly, and the space was clean, modern, and easy to navigate.

If you’re in Chicago for a conference, business trip, or just need a spot to unwind while making meaningful connections, Rivers Casino Des Plaines is a top-tier choice. Highly recommended for entrepreneurs, professionals, and anyone looking to blend business with a bit of nightlife.

Ran into a couple Soccer fans who love my cousin Bukayo Saka. Always a great time to connect with more people and build the community out here in Los Angeles. As they better get ready for the FIFA World Cup.

Rivers Casino Des Plaines — A Hidden Gem for Business Networking During the National Trading Conference

From July 30th to August 4th, my team and I were in Chicago for the National Trading Conference, and one of the unexpected highlights of our trip was spending time at Rivers Casino Des Plaines. While the casino is known for its entertainment and nightlife, it ended up becoming an unofficial networking hub for many professionals attending the conference.

Every night, the casino was buzzing with conference attendees—traders, investors, business owners, and entrepreneurs from all over the country. Some were there to unwind with a few drinks, others were testing their luck on the tables, but many—like myself—were there to connect, converse, and build new business relationships.

The atmosphere was energetic but not overwhelming. You could walk through the gaming floor and overhear conversations about markets, strategies, and collaborations happening over rounds of blackjack or while sipping cocktails at the bar. I personally wasn’t there to gamble—I was there to network and find new business opportunities, and Rivers provided the perfect social setting to do just that.

The venue itself is modern, clean, and well-staffed. The layout made it easy to float between different areas—from the sportsbook to the dining section, to the various lounges and table games—making it easy to mingle and engage in meaningful conversations. It truly felt like a social extension of the conference itself.

If you’re ever in town for a professional event, especially during a major industry conference like this one, I highly recommend checking out Rivers Casino Des Plaines. Whether you’re looking to unwind, network, or mix a little business with pleasure, this spot delivers on all fronts.

I would definitely suggest people to come...

TLDR: First time visiting this casino. Nice facility. Has 2 floors, it was really hot in the facility for some reason by the cashier cage to the point where I felt like I would pass out of heat exhaustion if I stood there for too long. I don’t know if I even want to return to any of their roulette tables after this first time visit. The roulette table I was playing at had a rude dealer and she was yelling at the players (I know the difference between raising your voice so others can hear you in a loud environment vs having a complete attitude for no reason) I was really put off by it.🤷🏻‍♀️ Don’t think I’ll be back here any time soon, as the experience tarnished the desire to return.🙅🏻‍♀️

Full breakdown: First time there last night and I have to say the facility was nice but the interaction with one of their roulette dealers was just horrible. The dealer was rude towards another customer that was also there for their first time. She kept yelling at the player to place his chips down on the table if he wanted her to put them on other numbers. The player seemed overwhelmed but still she kept yelling at him and smacking the table to get her point across. Again no kind of sympathy/ kindness towards the players. If it wasn’t for another player next to us helping the male customer out, I don’t think he would have kept playing. Then, She (the dealer) got upset with me when I was playing both inside and outside bets at $25 (no one else at the table was playing marked chips and I made sure of that before I placed any bets) which she SAW when I placed my first bet. When I placed my bet the exact same way as the previous spin she told me I “had to let her know I was doing that” and I looked at her and said you literally saw me do this with the last spin. She was not friendly at all.

Then the second dealer who tapped her out was the same way. Not friendly in the slightest. She looked like she didn’t want to be there. During one spin I had forgot which spot I had placed down two bets, I had asked the dealer if she recalled if my bet was placed on a corner bet and she could not recall if it was placed there so I politely called for the pit boss to see if the pit boss could just verify that it was indeed a losing bet or a winning bet because of how fast the dealer was moving and the amount of play that was on the table. At first the pit boss seemed annoyed to honor my request for what ever reason, and i explained to him I’m just trying to see if it was a win or a loss, if it was indeed a loss i would stop and walk away. I also let him know I didn’t mind waiting for the verification but he made it seem like it would be a long process. Once again i was okay with waiting patiently. After about 3-5 minutes i was able to get a confirmation that it was indeed a loss. Which I was thankful for the confirmation and quietly walked away from the table.

Might give it a bit and check out Grand Victoria in Elgin to see if their customer service on table games is better than what I...

Don’t Bet on Consistent Friendly Service at Rivers Casino: Ever since Rivers Casino in Des Plaines, Illinois opened in 2011, members of our family have met there almost every year to celebrate my mother’s birthday. March 22, 2025, was no different with a party of seven. We sat at one of the high-top cocktail tables in the bar area referred to as the Lotus, which is in the middle of the main casino floor. Shortly after 7 p.m. (2 to 3 hours into our celebration), a drink server came to our table and informed us that when the DJ starts to play, the table would become reserved with a minimum bar tab of $150. We responded by telling her we’d bought $150 worth of drinks already from the bar, but no worries because we had dinner plans and would not stay much longer. Ten or fifteen minutes later, the drink server returned, repeated her message, and placed a “reserved” sign on the table. There were two other high-top tables in the vicinity, each with two people, but the server didn’t place a sign on either of their tables. We decided to get her attention and ask why. My niece pointedly asked the server a question, but she seemed intent on not answering it yet repeated her short diatribe. The server (she never told us her name, but my niece discovered her name was Nicole) seemed as frustrated as we were, so she grabbed the “reserved” sign, walked to one of the other tables, placed the sign there, spoke to the couple before returning to the bar. Another casino employee, Maria, approached our table and my niece then engaged in a conversation that was more informative than what Nicole bothered to do. Maria explained that they were short on the “reserved” signs and that Nicole placed the sign on the table to reserve it for us. Nicole’s tone of voice to us was swarmy and dismissive. Maria was more diplomatic but definitely in defense of Nicole (“one of their best servers”). According to the Chicago Tribune, Rivers Casino pulled in $516 million in annual revenue in 2024. They can’t afford or bother to order more “reserved” signs? A top-notch server will make everyone feel welcome. Nicole did not do that, nor at any time did she adequately explain her actions. Her tone and the way she presented her message made us all feel like we had to hurry and leave. My niece ordered another round of drinks, but not from Nicole. The DJ still had not started playing by the time we left for our dinner reservation. The waitstaff at Harry Caray’s was excellent. Our server could teach Nicole how to be professional yet friendly. I miss The Cube and the quality service at...