The casino will be built on a 25-acre empty field in Rockford’s East State Street corridor and is expected to cost $310m.
Regional media has claimed the completion of the casino will generate millions in local income, creating thousands of new jobs in the process.
Hard Rock Casino Rockford officials were accompanied at the groundbreaking by representatives of Hard Rock International, local governments and Rick Nielsen, member of the band Cheap Trick.
A Rockford local all his life, Nielsen said: "I have called Rockford my home for my entire life, and I'm so thrilled to see Hard Rock install a little piece of rock 'n roll in my backyard."
Hard Rock Casino Rockford's construction is expected to require 1,200 union construction workers, and it is hoped the build can be completed by winter 2023.
The resort will include a 65,000-square-foot casino with 1,500 slot machines, a sportsbook and 60 table games featuring all of craps, blackjack and roulette.
It is currently undecided whether the casino will include a poker room of between 10 and 12 tables.
Other features that will make up the resort include a Hard Rock Café, Council Oak Steakhouse and YouYu, an Asian cuisine restaurant.
A Hard Rock Live event centre will also have the capacity to serve as a 23,500-square-foot conference space, seating up to 1,600 people.
Furthermore, a 250-room hotel will be built in phase two of the resort’s construction.
