Bally’s Chicago Faces Further Delays on Permanent Casino

Bally’s Chicago is asking state lawmakers for permission to keep operating its temporary casino at Medinah Temple as construction delays continue at its planned permanent casino in River West.

A bill introduced Thursday by state Representative Kam Buckner would extend the current temporary operating license beyond its September 2026 expiration and allow Bally’s to remain at Medinah Temple through September 2027.

Good to Know

• Bally’s Chicago wants to extend its temporary casino license by up to one year
• The permanent River West casino timeline has slipped again
• Lawmakers discussed the proposal but have not voted

Details of the Proposed Extension

Buckner proposal would grant Bally’s an additional six months on its temporary license, followed by the option for two separate three month extensions. If approved, the Medinah Temple casino could remain open for up to another year.

“Bally’s Chicago remains fully committed to the construction of its permanent casino and entertainment destination and will continue operating at Medinah Temple in accordance with all regulatory requirements during the extension period,” said Christopher Jewett, senior vice president of corporate development at Bally’s.

Permanent Casino Timeline Keeps Moving

Bally’s was originally targeting a September 2026 opening for its permanent casino. That goal shifted last year to the fourth quarter of 2026 and required legislative approval for a temporary license extension, according to the Illinois Gaming Board.

Under the newly proposed bill, the permanent casino could now open in late 2027.

The project was awarded to Bally’s by the city in 2022 and is expected to become the largest casino in Illinois. The site sits on the former Freedom Center printing plant along the Chicago River.

Plans include a 500 room hotel, a 3,000 seat theater, exhibition space, 10 restaurants, and roughly 4,000 gaming positions.

Construction Disruptions and Design Changes

Construction progress has been interrupted multiple times. In December 2024, the city halted demolition work after debris entered the Chicago River. In May 2025, the Illinois Gaming Board ordered a work stoppage after Bally’s used an unapproved waste hauler with alleged organized crime ties.

Design changes also affected the schedule. In 2024, Bally’s moved the planned 34 story hotel tower to the south side of the main casino after engineers raised concerns about caisson drilling near municipal water infrastructure. The hotel tower is now under construction near the Ohio feeder ramp.

Temporary Casino Performance

Bally’s opened its temporary Medinah Temple casino in September 2023. While results have fallen short of early projections, the property generated nearly $125 million in adjusted gross receipts during 2025.

The casino welcomed about 1.3 million visitors last year and ranked fifth among Illinois casinos.

The Illinois Gaming Board initially approved a two year temporary license and later added a 12 month extension, bringing the total to three years.

How Do Illinois Casinos Do?

Illinois casinos recorded strong growth in 2025. The states 17 casinos generated more than $1.9 billion in adjusted gross receipts, up 15 percent from the prior year. Admissions increased nearly 20 percent to more than 15.5 million.

New casinos at Wind Creek Chicago Southland, Hard Rock Rockford, and Hollywood Casino Joliet supported that growth. Hollywood Casino Aurora is expected to open in the first half of 2026.

Elsewhere, American Place Casino in Waukegan continues operating from a temporary facility. Full House Resorts expects to break ground on its permanent site in early 2026. With an extended temporary license, American Place is targeting an August 2027 opening. The casino generated nearly $122 million in adjusted gross receipts in 2025, ranking sixth statewide.

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