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State of Play
- Bally’s reveals early renderings of its permanent Chicago casino, highlighting a poker room and extensive gaming floor set to open by next year.
- This $1.7 billion River West project represents a major addition for Illinois gamblers, promising a vibrant new gaming and entertainment hub.
The new Bally’s Chicago Casino is planned for the former Chicago Tribune printing plant site at 777 W. Chicago Ave. It will feature a 3,400-slot machine capacity and a 500-room hotel.
The complex will also boast a rooftop pool and bar, multiple restaurants, a 3,000-seat theater, and a public park with a riverwalk extension.
State law mandates that Bally’s must begin accepting bets at this permanent location by September next year.
Construction delayed but on pace to be completed by September
Renderings submitted as part of Bally’s recent New York casino application revealed detailed interiors, including dedicated poker and baccarat rooms alongside a vast gaming floor.
Construction began recently with a crane erected last month, although the project faced a two-week pause due to an investigation linked to a mob-connected garbage company working on-site.
Currently operating a temporary casino inside Chicago’s historic Medinah Temple, Bally’s has seen modest financial returns, generating approximately $270 million in adjusted revenue since September 2023. This resulted in $41 million in state tax revenue and $33.6 million allocated for Chicago’s police and firefighter pensions, reflecting the casino’s role in supporting public funds.
The permanent casino’s scale and location are expected to significantly boost local gaming activity, attracting more bettors and increasing revenues for operators and the city alike. However, ongoing regulatory scrutiny from the Illinois Gaming Board remains, with potential disciplinary actions pending as investigations continue.
Based on reporting by Mitchell Armentrout for Chicago Sun-Times.
