Bally’s Chicago has received a one-year extension to finalize its permanent casino project after state regulators in Illinois approved a measure allowing the operator to keep its temporary facility in operation past the initial three-year limit.
The Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) has authorized its Administrator Marcus Fruchter to grant Bally’s Chicago an additional year to complete the casino, moving the deadline to September 9, 2027.
This decision follows action by the Illinois General Assembly earlier this month which permitted the IGB to allow the Chicago casino to operate from its temporary location beyond the previously established legal timeframe. Senate Bill 3019, which serves as the legal framework for this extension, is pending signatures from Illinois Governor JB Pritzker.
Bally’s has been running a temporary casino in the historic Medinah Temple in downtown Chicago since September 9, 2023, with intentions to continue until the permanent venue is ready to open.
The new Bally’s Chicago permanent casino is being built along the Chicago River near the intersections of Chicago Avenue and Halsted Street, just northwest of downtown. This ambitious project will feature 3,300 slot machines, 173 table games, a 500-room hotel tower, a 3,000-seat theater, six dining options, a food hall, a two-acre public park, and an expansion of the riverwalk.
This extension postpones the introduction of a permanent casino in Chicago, which has been seen as a potential competition threat by operators in nearby Northwest Indiana. Consequently, those casinos will continue to compete only against Bally’s temporary setup instead of a fully formed resort casino.
Despite being the third-most visited casino in Illinois, Bally’s revenue has not kept pace with several rivals. Its monthly gaming revenue often fails to place it among the top five gaming venues in the state, and the operation has generated lower tax revenues than expected, which were meant to support Chicago’s police and firefighter pension systems.
In contrast, Wind Creek Chicago Southland Casino in East Hazel Crest has risen as a major competitor, achieving the state’s second-highest visitor numbers and gaming revenue in its 18th full month of operations.
In a separate decision, the IGB also approved an extension for Full House Resorts to operate its temporary Waukegan casino until February 17, 2029, while ongoing construction continues on its American Place Casino development.