Bally’s Casino Chicago at Medinah Temple, 600 N. Wabash Ave., in River West.
Bally’s now has until Sept. 9, 2026, to complete its 505,000-square-foot permanent casino complex in River West.
By Mitchell Armentrout | Chicago Sun*Times
State gambling regulators on Thursday dealt Bally’s its full license to take bets in Chicago, officially allowing the company to operate its temporary casino at the historic Medinah Temple for three years — and starting the clock to open a permanent gaming mecca in River West by September 2026.
Bally’s opened its doors to gamblers last month at 600 N. Wabash Ave. with a temporary permit issued by Illinois Gaming Board Administrator Marcus Fruchter.
Gaming board members voted unanimously to grant Bally’s the license that now locks it into the $1.7 billion mega development they’ve envisioned at Chicago Avenue and Halsted Street, the plan that won over former Mayor Lori Lightfoot when she picked them last year over three other casino bidders.
The board also approved Bally’s request to extend its temporary operation at Medinah, a long-anticipated move for the Rhode Island-based corporation. State law gives casino operators two years to run a temporary site, with an optional 12-month extension while the permanent site is being built.
That gives Bally’s until Sept. 9, 2026, to complete its 505,000-square-foot casino complex in River West.
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