Bally’s Chicago is now seeking legislative approval to continue operating its temporary casino at Medinah Temple for up to another year, amid ongoing delays in the construction of its $1.7 billion permanent facility in River West.
A bill introduced Thursday by state Representative Kam Buckner proposes to extend the casino’s temporary operating license beyond its current expiration date in September 2026. The measure would grant an additional six months, with the option of two further three-month extensions. The new timeline could allow Bally’s to continue using the Medinah Temple site through September 2027.
“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.
The new target date follows a series of setbacks. Though Bally’s had long aimed to open the permanent casino in September 2026, it revised the timeline last year to the fourth quarter of 2026. That schedule still required legislative action to extend the temporary license, according to the Illinois Gaming Board. Now, under the proposed bill, the launch could be delayed until late 2027.
Render of the ongoing development
Selected by the city in 2022, Bally’s was awarded the project to develop what would become the largest casino in Illinois. The complex is under construction on the former site of the Tribune’s Freedom Center printing plant and is set to include a 500-room hotel, 3,000-seat theater, exhibition space, 10 restaurants, and 4,000 gaming positions.
Construction of the permanent facility has been hindered by multiple disruptions. In December 2024, demolition work was halted by the city after debris from the Freedom Center site spilled into the Chicago River. In May 2025, the Illinois Gaming Board imposed a work stoppage after Bally’s was found to be using an unapproved waste hauler with alleged organized crime ties.
Design revisions also contributed to delays. In 2024, Bally’s relocated its planned 34-story hotel tower to the south of the main casino structure after determining that the original site’s caisson drilling could risk damaging nearby municipal water infrastructure along the river. The hotel tower is now under construction, visible near the Ohio feeder ramp.
Bally’s temporary casino opened at Medinah Temple in September 2023. While its performance has not met projections, it generated nearly $125 million in adjusted gross receipts and welcomed 1.3 million visitors in 2025, ranking fifth among the state’s casinos.
The Illinois Gaming Board had previously approved a two-year temporary license and granted a 12-month extension, bringing the current total to three years. Buckner’s proposed legislation would extend that further as Bally’s works to complete its permanent site.
While Bally’s held steady in 2025, other casinos across Illinois experienced significant growth. According to Gaming Board data, the state’s 17 casinos generated more than $1.9 billion in adjusted gross receipts last year, up 15% from the previous year. Admissions rose nearly 20%, surpassing 15.5 million.
New venues at Wind Creek Chicago Southland, Hard Rock Rockford, and the land-based Hollywood Casino Joliet were key contributors to that increase. The $360 million Hollywood Casino Aurora is expected to open in the first half of 2026.
Elsewhere, delays continue at the $500 million American Place Casino in Waukegan, which has operated out of a temporary facility since February 2023. Following setbacks involving lawsuits, financing, and regulatory hurdles, Full House Resorts expects to break ground on the permanent casino in the first quarter of this year.
With an extended 18-month temporary license, the Waukegan venue is targeting an August 2027 opening, positioning it just ahead of Bally’s revised timeline. Last year, American Place generated nearly $122 million in adjusted gross receipts, ranking sixth statewide.
Original article: https://www.yogonet.com/international/news/2026/01/16/117177-ballys-chicago-seeks-12month-extension-as-permanent-casino-faces-further-delays
