Illinois was the 5th state admitted to the union on December 3, 1818. It covers an area of 57,918 square miles. It is a Great Lakes state, and is nicknamed the “Prairie State”. Illinois also is home to riverboat casinos, and there are 9 major casinos in Illinois.

Illinois casinos have been limited by the government’s restrictions and are taxed at the highest rate in the nation. The laws also limit the amount of gaming licenses that can be issued to 9, and the state is now at the maximum for gaming licenses. Illinois casinos do, however, offer a wide range of gaming options.

These are only three of the nine Illinois casinos. They all offer special features that are worth taking a look at, like paddleboats and barges. Most casinos also offer great dining on site. Illinois casinos offer much more than gambling – they offer a great vacation experience.

Argosy’s Alton Belle Casino

Argosy’s Alton Belle Casino was the first riverboat casino in Illinois, opening its doors in 1991. It is located at 1 Front Street in Alton. There are three restaurants available for guests. The casino occupies 23,000 square feet and operates from 9am to 5pm every day. It features a 1,200-passenger yacht and a barge.

Argosy’s Empress Casino

Argosy’s Empress Casino is located at 2300 Empress Drive in Joliet. There are 85 rooms and 17 suites available at the casino hotel. The casino operates from 10am to 4am on Friday and from 10am to 4am on Saturday. There are three restaurants on site. The casino occupies 50,000 square feet, and has special features like an 80-space RV park and 2,500-passenger barge.

Casino Queen

Casino Queen is located in East Saint Louis at 200 South Front Street. There are 150 rooms and 7 suites available at the casino as well. The casino operates from 9am to 7am daily. It occupies 27,500 square feet and offers many features. Besides gaming, Casino Queen offers a 2,500-passenger paddle wheeler, a 140-space RV park and easy access to MetroLink light-rail station.

The birth home of President Lincoln, Illinois is a state with two identities. Chicago is an overwhelming presence and essentially a state unto itself. The rest of Illinois can be classified as much more rural with the down home atmosphere such places take on.If you are getting ready to sell your home and you are in the Illinois real estate market there are a few things that you can do in order to make your home perfect when it comes time to show it off. When you are looking to sell your home whether you are doing it as a for sale by owner or you are doing it through a Illinois real estate broker you are going to want to make a favorable impression and get the most out of your property.

First thing take a look around your house, what is in need of maintenance that is already part of your home. Check for things like termites repair the lawn and landscaping. Also, consider cleaning and replacing gutters, clean the driveway, replace damaged siding and a new paint job. The first thing that people see when they approach your home is the lawn and the outside of the house. Doing these things can increase your chances of selling your home when you put it on the Illinois real estate market.

The next thing is to look at the rooms in your home. If you are planning to remodel the best place to start is either the bathroom or the kitchen. Either one of these spaces are more likely to bring a return to you than anything else. It is also an enticement to people to know a place has a new kitchen and bathroom.

Make sure that you finish the project and clean up before putting the house on the market. Nothing will make a buyer run faster than to know the house may not be ready when they are. Once you have completed the remodeling you are going to do if any it is time to look at the way the house is laid out.

People have an amazing amount of things and these things can make a home look cluttered and untidy .The best thing to do if you are getting your home ready to show is to put everything you can away. The less things that are in a room the more room there appears to be. That is not to say that tasteful and small additions are not welcome. You want your house to look like a home but you also want to maximize on visual presentation. Repair any holes or marks, which might be in the walls. This will also help to give your home a fresh appearance on the inside.

These are only a few of the small things you can do around your home to bring it up to tiptop shape before you put it on the market so that you can get the best that the Illinois real estate market has to offer both in the way of buyer and in the way of price. You have a better chance of selling a home that looks well taken care of for the price you want than one that is in need of repair.