Bally's halts parts of Chicago casino construction amid gaming dispute

Bally's Corporation has announced a pause in construction for certain elements of its $1.7 billion permanent casino resort in Chicago's River West neighborhood. The company is "resetting the pace" on the project's 34-story hotel tower and other non-gaming amenities due to a dispute with city officials.

The standoff stems from a Chicago City Council proposal to authorize video gaming terminals (VGTs) in venues such as bars, restaurants, and truck stops. Bally's contends that allowing these terminals would violate the Host Community Agreement signed in June 2022, which they claim guarantees no additional casino-style gambling will be permitted within city limits.

Bally's has hired the law firm RKF Global to represent them in a potential lawsuit against the city. Despite the construction pause on specific amenities, the company stated that the opening of the permanent casino remains on track for early 2027. A temporary casino facility continues to operate in the River North neighborhood.