Share 
Bally’s Corp. has finally shed light on its upcoming Las Vegas casino. The national casino operator purchased the Tropicana in 2021 and took over operations in 2022 before imploding the historic property in 2024.
The demolition of the Tropicana cleared the way for a new casino and more on the Vegas Strip. Nine of the 35 acres once occupied by the iconic casino have been set aside for a Major League Baseball stadium to house the former Oakland A’s.
When complete, the new complex will include an integrated hotel, casino, and retail development operated by Bally’s, along with the stadium operated by the Las Vegas A’s.
Complex expected to be completed in 2029
Gaming and Leisure Properties owns the land beneath this ambitious project; Bally’s has been paying $10.5 million a year in rent.
There is still a lot of work to do before the entire complex becomes a reality. Construction is expected to begin during the first half of 2026.
The company told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that it plans to have a parking garage, a walkway to the stadium, retail, dining, and entertainment spaces completed by July 2028.
Full construction is expected to be completed by March 2029.
The initial master plan from 2024 showed that the new Bally’s complex will open in three phases. However, the document does not include a specific timeline.
The A’s broke ground on the stadium earlier this year with a planned opening date in 2028, although progress has been slow so far. Construction has reached enough benchmarks for Clark County commissioners to approve the development agreement so work can continue to move forward.
The future Bally’s Las Vegas
The Bally’s name isn’t new to Las Vegas. Bally’s bought the old MGM Grand Hotel and Casino along the Strip in 1986 and renamed it Bally’s Las Vegas. Caesars sold the Bally’s brand in 2020 and rebranded the property Horseshoe Las Vegas in 2022.
Bally’s has ambitious goals to create a distinctive property on the Vegas Strip by 2029, said Chairman Soo Kim.
“Bally’s Las Vegas represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to redefine the heart of the Strip … We are not just building an integrated resort. We are creating a landmark destination that unites sports, entertainment, dining, and hospitality on a scale only Las Vegas can deliver.”
Retail and entertainment districts have become increasingly popular alongside new stadium construction in recent years. The Bally’s complex will be similar to those in Atlanta and San Diego, with the addition of a casino.
A significant amount will be built on a relatively small piece of land. Bally’s will occupy about 26 acres and include the following:
- Two luxury hotel towers with 3,000 rooms
- Multiple pools
- A casino
- More than 500,000 square feet of retail, dining, and entertainment
- A 2,500-capacity theater
- A parking garage
For comparison, the current MGM Grand sits on 112 acres across the street from Bally’s. Bellagio occupies more than twice the land Bally’s has available for its project around the baseball stadium.
Diving into Bally’s casino plans
Bally’s released a master plan preview last year that included detailed information about the property, along with several drawings showing how the project will take shape. For starters, the development is planned to be built in three phases.
The 100,000 square foot casino floor would be included in the first phase of construction in the initial plans. It would have:
- 1,500 slot machines
- 75 table games
- A 12,000-square-foot sportsbook
- A 3,500-square-foot poker room
In addition to the main casino floor, there would be 120 slot machines in the high-limit room and another 80 bar-top machines, featuring slots, video poker, keno, and possibly more.
The high-limit room would offer just eight table games, while an “Asian gaming space” would feature 11. The poker room would include 16 tables.
Plans call for the sportsbook to include a restaurant with seating for 200 people and a bar with space for 100. For comparison, that’s slightly smaller than The Tavern sportsbook, bar, and restaurant at Fontainebleau.
It’s likely the 80 bar-top machines will be spread over two or three bars, including one in the high-limit room.
If Bally’s sticks to the initial plans, this will be a lot of casino packed into a relatively small space. The rest of the property would follow the same pattern.
More Bally’s Las Vegas amenities
Bally’s submitted ambitious plans for the integrated casino, resort, and retail complex in 2024. These concepts may have already evolved since then.
Documents show that the initial plan called for three hotel towers, including an ultra-luxury tower designed for high-rollers. However, the most recent announcement mentions only two towers.
According to the original plans, the first phase of construction would include:
- A 1,500-room hotel tower with a spa and pool complex
- Conference space
- Four full-service restaurants
- A food hall
- Five bars
- A dayclub with a restaurant
All hotel rooms would measure at least 510 square feet. There would be 294 suites ranging from 765 to 2,040 square feet.
Details about the dining options remain limited since the resort is still years from opening. Early documents did note that one of the restaurants would be a steakhouse.
The second and third phases would bring additional hotel towers and more amenities, though the latest announcement doesn’t include specifics.
Mick Akers of the Las Vegas Review-Journal uncovered an updated drawing showing what the Bally’s complex will look like once the entire project is complete.
Chicago and New York still on Bally’s mind
Bally’s is one of the few nationwide casino operators. The company owns and operates 19 US casinos in 11 states, along with a golf course in New York and a horse racetrack in Colorado.
In addition to its plans in Las Vegas, the company also has its sights set on projects in Chicago and New York City.
Construction is underway on Bally’s Chicago, and there’s still plenty of work ahead to meet the planned late-2026 opening date.
Bally’s is among the few casino operators still in contention for a New York City casino license. If approved, it plans to develop a $10 billion complex at its golf course in the Bronx.
The company has sky-high expectations for major projects on the East Coast, West Coast, and in the Midwest. Bally’s recently made financial moves to help fund these ambitious developments.
It completed a deal with Intralot for its interactive division. The company will retain majority ownership and receive more than $3 billion. It also continues to refinance expenses to keep current projects moving forward.
There’s a lot on the company’s plate before Bally’s Las Vegas opens its doors.
