Bally’s Corp. announced that the construction of its permanent Chicago casino is still in progress, and the $1.7 billion project is scheduled to open in early 2027.
Chairman Soo Kim and Wanda Wilson, who lead the Bally’s Chicago board, discussed the project in an eight-minute conference call on Monday following reports questioning the construction pace, as reported by Chicago Construction News.
Kim reaffirmed the company’s dedication to the project and confirmed that construction is ongoing. “There have been false reports indicating that construction has halted or paused,” he stated. “Construction is proceeding daily, with approximately 1,000 skilled tradespeople working on the permanent Bally’s Chicago resort.”
The update follows Bally’s decision in August to reassess the timing of some non-gaming components after Chicago legalized video gaming terminals (VGTs).
The company informed Chicago in July that VGT legalization violated the terms of the host community agreement signed with the city of Chicago. Subsequently, they informed their contractor that they were reviewing the phasing of certain non-gaming elements.
“Bally’s took these actions because our responsibility is clear,” Kim explained. “We are taking steps to protect our investors, uphold the value of Bally’s Chicago, and ensure that the commitments underlying this investment and our agreement with the City of Chicago are honored.”
“Our commitment to Chicago remains unwavering,” he added.
The permanent casino is under construction at 560 W. Grand Ave. on the former Chicago Tribune Freedom Center site. Bally’s placed the final structural beam on the casino and hotel complex in April.
The company presented the revised construction plans at a Chicago City Council License Committee hearing on September 9.
George Papanier, Bally’s President and Interim CFO, mentioned that the resort is anticipated to open with an event center, 100 hotel rooms, and the necessary food and beverage facilities as outlined in the project agreement. The hotel is expected to eventually expand to 500 rooms.
About 12% of the other planned amenities for the development are currently under review due to potential impact from VGTs on casino revenue. The facilities being considered for adjustment include additional hotel capacity, as well as entertainment and hospitality offerings.
Bally’s has emphasized that the review process involves reordering the delivery of certain facilities rather than halting construction entirely.
The company also plans to offer tours of the construction site to investors and shareholders to provide updates on the project’s progress.
The original opening date for the casino was 2026 before being rescheduled to spring 2027. Work on the main components of the resort is ongoing as the company determines the timeline for completing the remaining non-gaming facilities.