Since launching in September 2023, Bally’s Chicago has welcomed over 1.3 million guests to its temporary home within Medinah Temple. This year marks the establishment of the casino. With $114 million in adjusted gross receipts during the previous year, the casino is among Illinois’ top four gambling enterprises. Even with this performance, the profits have fallen short of the original estimates.
Economic Impact and Future Plans
The Illinois Gaming Board reported that Bally’s Chicago has contributed nearly $12.9 million in local tax revenue, though it falls short of the projected $243 million in receipts and $35 million in taxes by 2024. Bally’s President, George Papanier, remains optimistic, stating, “Since we first opened, we have strived to meet the commitments we made to the city of Chicago and are proud of how far we have come in just one year.”
In addition to running the temporary casino, Bally’s continues to push forward on a $1.7 billion project for a permanent casino on the former Tribune Publishing plant site in River North. This facility will offer 4,000 gaming positions, a hotel, a theater, and several restaurants, making it Illinois’ largest casino when completed in 2026.
Operating out of the 130,000-square-foot Medinah Temple, the casino features 754 slot machines and 56 gaming tables, drawing over 100,000 visitors monthly. The iconic venue, known for its Moorish-style architecture, underwent a $50 million renovation for its transformation into a gaming space.
In August 2024 alone, the temporary location welcomed nearly 125,000 visitors, bringing in $10.7 million in adjusted gross receipts. However, it still trails behind Rivers Casino Des Plaines, the state’s highest-earning casino, which reported $520 million in the same period.
While Bally’s Chicago currently operates under a three-year temporary license, construction on its permanent site is underway. The company began demolition of the Tribune Publishing’s Freedom Center in September 2023 to make way for the new casino complex.
The post Bally’s Chicago Casino Hits 1.3 Million Visitors in First Year at Medinah Temple appeared first on iGaming.org.