Bally’s Restarts Chicago Casino Construction After IGB Green Light

Construction on Bally’s $1.7 billion Chicago casino is back on track after a two-week pause ordered by the Illinois Gaming Board (IGB). The halt came after the board discovered Bally’s had used an undisclosed waste removal vendor previously flagged for alleged organized crime links.

Good to know

• Bally’s paused work on May 1 over unauthorized vendor use.
• Construction is now cleared to resume as of May 15.
• Permanent casino project is targeting a September 2026 opening.

The stop-work order was triggered when D&P Construction Co., based in Melrose Park, was found operating at the River West construction site. Bally’s had not disclosed the company’s involvement to the IGB as required by state regulations. D&P has been under scrutiny in the past for alleged connections to organized crime.

After a review, the IGB said Bally’s addressed the issue by removing D&P from the site on May 2 and agreeing to stricter vendor oversight going forward. In a statement, the board said, “Presently, no vendors are working on the casino construction project without IGB approval. Bally’s addressed the disclosure failures. It has disclosed, and assured the ongoing disclosure of, all proposed vendors to the IGB.”

Construction moves forward under new oversight

Bally’s Chairman Soo Kim confirmed the restart: “We were informed today by IGB that construction on the Bally’s site will begin on Thursday, May 15th. We appreciate the collaboration and support of IGB throughout this process and look forward to delivering this project to Chicago.”

The IGB clarified that while construction may now resume, the vendor situation remains under review. Bally’s has committed to tighter controls and greater transparency to prevent future issues, and the board said the company is cooperating with the investigation.

The original halt was sparked by an investigation from the Chicago Sun-Times, which reported the presence of dumpsters from D&P Construction at the site. The use of undisclosed vendors in Illinois casino projects has led to severe consequences in the past, including multimillion-dollar fines and failed casino approvals.

Project details and long-term plans

Despite the delay, Bally’s continues to hold its license to develop what is set to become Illinois’ largest casino complex. The permanent site, located on the former Chicago Tribune printing plant property, will include a 500-room hotel, 4,000 gaming positions, 10 restaurants, a 3,000-seat theater, and an exhibition space.

Foundational work began earlier this year, and the project still aims to open by September 2026. With construction now back in motion, the focus turns to maintaining regulatory compliance while pushing ahead with one of the largest private developments currently underway in the city.

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