Planned Chicago casino inches toward state approval

Apr 16, 2024

Bally's is planing to construct by 2026 a $1.7 billion casino, entertainment and hotel complex at the intersection of Chicago Avenue and Halsted Street in the city's River North neighborhood, featuring some 3,400 slot machines and 173 table games, a 500-room hotel and a 3,000-seat theater, among other amenities.

Pending final approvals, Bally's this year could open a temporary Chicago casino featuring 750 slot machines and 50 table games, two restaurants, a bar and a coffee shop spread across three floors at the former Medinah Temple, 600 N. Wabash.

Northwest Indiana's four gaming destinations in Hammond, East Chicago, Gary and Michigan City are getting closer toward having to compete with a Chicago casino.

On Thursday, the Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) unanimously granted a finding of "preliminary suitability" to Bally's Corp., the Rhode Island company selected 13 months ago by city officials for the first-ever Chicago casino license created by the 2019 Illinois General Assembly.

The designation confirms that Bally's appears to meet the basic qualifications for the Chicago casino owner's license, following an extensive investigation of the company, its leadership, investors and development plans by the state gaming regulatory agency.

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot announces that she's selected Bally's to construct a casino, hotel and entertainment facility in Chicago

IGB Administrator Marcus Fruchter said the agency will maintain a close watch on Bally's as it takes the next steps toward licensure, including an assessment of its gaming operations, practice gaming sessions, issuance of a temporary operating permit and final IGB approval.

"This is not the final act in this opera," Fruchter said. "By design, the licensing process is a rigorous and significant undertaking for everyone involved."

Bally's initially plans to open a temporary casino featuring 750 slot machines and 50 table games, two restaurants, a bar and a coffee shop spread across three floors at the former Medinah Temple, 600 N. Wabash.

Soo Kim, Bally's chairman, told the IGB that when visitors see the work Bally's has done at Medinah to create a casino inside the 111-year-old auditorium-style structure, while preserving its unique and ornate architectural flourishes, they'll say "wow."

"We asked the city of Chicago to bet on Bally's and we're here to pay that bet off," Kim said.

No opening date for the temporary casino was announced at the IGB meeting. It likely will be late summer or fall, at the earliest, before Bally's secures the needed approvals to open its doors to the public.

In the meantime, Bally's Chicago Vice President and General Manager Mark Wong said the company is in the process of training some 200 new hires at its "dealer school," and actively recruiting more staff at job fairs across the city.

Bally's also is planning to construct a $1.7 billion permanent casino, entertainment and hotel complex at the intersection of Chicago Avenue and Halsted Street in the city's River West neighborhood.

Riding Shotgun with Merrillville Police Officer Amanda Earley

That facility will feature some 3,400 slot machines and 173 table games, or approximately twice as many gaming positions as the Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana in Gary, along with a 500-room hotel and a 3,000-seat theater, among other amenities.

It's tentatively scheduled to open in early 2026.

The company now named Bally's was known until 2020 as Twin River Worldwide Holdings, and its 15 casinos in 14 states, including the former Tropicana Casino in Evansville, Indiana, and the former Jumer's Casino in Rock Island, Illinois, mainly were acquired through purchases, not new construction.

From a tiny piece of Albanese candy to the gigantic Thornton Quarry, The Times chronicled the top 100 objects that most represent the Region.

Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly.

Chief Political Reporter

"Amounts wagered on both slots and table games grew nearly 3%, but we were on the wrong side of several large table games bets," said Matt Sch…

A sweet song continued playing at Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana in April even as the three other casinos in Lake and LaPorte counties saw …

The parent company of East Chicago's Ameristar Casino has received approval from the Illinois Gaming Board to relocate its two suburban Chicag…

A potentially transformational plan for development in Lake County, and especially Gary, is close to reaching the governor's desk to be signed…

The new games include the in-demand Buffalo series, Timber Wolf, Power of 88, Lightning Link, Dancing Drums, Lock It Link, and a variety of pa…

A 23-story hotel tower with luxury amenities and exceptional views is slated to open March 1 adjacent to Four Winds Casino in South Bend.

"We are excited to partner with Wind Creek over the next few seasons to bring fans new in-arena competitions, social content and sweepstakes,"…

Data contained in the Indiana Gaming Commission's 2022 annual report show how much money players got back in each of the state's 12 casinos fo…

The money is earmarked for Chicago's underfunded police and fire pension programs. The majority of the city's future casino revenues also will…

Motorists traveling in Illinois on Interstate 80/294 soon will notice a major development beginning to rise just west of the Thornton quarry a…

The Democratic-controlled council voted 41-7 to endorse Mayor Lori Lightfoot's recommendation for the Bally's casino project and to forward it…

The city of Chicago is one step to closer to achieving its long-sought dream of a casino inside city limits.

According to town officials, 45th Street will have reduced capacity between Calumet Avenue and the Indiana-Illinois state line for pavement re…

Officials said the victim was recovered at 2:49 p.m. following a nearly two-hour search after witnesses said they saw a female go under the wa…

Altogether, Hoosiers will pay 72.9 cents in taxes, including 54.5 cents in state taxes, on every gallon of gasoline they purchase in July.

A Powerball ticket sold for Monday's drawing at Strack and Van Til in Highland matched four of the five white balls and the red Powerball to w…

There were 252 new Indiana laws approved this year by the Republican-controlled General Assembly and enacted by Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb.

Exciting games, delicious dining and a packed entertainment schedule continue to push the volume ever higher at the Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana.