Bally’s casino Chicago is still expected to open its permanent gaming facility in early 2027.
That's according to the company, even as its larger River West development faces a construction slowdown, a clash with City Hall over video gaming terminals and renewed scrutiny of Bally’s finances.
The casino operator has paused or reduced work on several non-gaming portions of the roughly $1.7 billion project, including its planned hotel, event venue, restaurants and other entertainment amenities. However, Bally’s maintains that construction of the casino itself is continuing and that the initial opening schedule has not changed.
Hitting the 2027 target date is actually a slight delay in the first place.
Bally’s Casino Chicago Opening Remains Set for 2027
The permanent Bally’s casino Chicago development is being built in River West on the former Chicago Tribune Freedom Center site along the Chicago River. The long-planned resort is intended to include a full-scale casino, a 34-story hotel with approximately 500 rooms, a theater or event center, restaurants, retail space and public riverfront amenities.
Bally’s told contractors in August that it was “resetting the pace” of construction on portions of the broader resort. Still, the company said the permanent casino gaming floor remains on track for an early 2027 debut.
That distinction is important for Chicago gambling customers and city officials alike. Bally’s appears to be moving forward with the core casino facility while putting some destination-style elements of the project in limbo.
Why Bally’s Slowed Parts of Construction
Bally’s linked the construction change to Chicago’s decision to authorize video gaming terminals, often called VGTs, in establishments such as bars and restaurants. The terminals resemble slot machines and could create a new form of gambling competition inside city limits.
The company argues that the move conflicts with the 2022 Host Community Agreement governing the casino project. Bally’s has said the agreement committed the city not to expand competing gaming options and gave its casino a measure of exclusivity for casino-style gambling in Chicago.
The operator has warned that widespread VGT availability could reduce casino revenue and affect jobs tied to the full resort development. Reports indicate that work was halted or reduced on the planned hotel, entertainment venue, restaurant space and other non-gaming components, affecting as many as 1,500 union workers.
Chicago officials and some aldermen have challenged Bally’s reasoning. A group of 27 aldermen called on the company to restart full construction and requested a public hearing into the project’s finances, status and contractual obligations.
Financial Questions Add Pressure
The timing of the Bally’s casino Chicago slowdown has brought added attention because Bally’s recently disclosed substantial financial uncertainty in a quarterly filing. The company included a “going concern” warning tied to projected liquidity shortfalls and the possibility of violating debt-related requirements.
A going-concern disclosure does not mean a business is shutting down. It means management has identified substantial doubt about whether the company can meet obligations over the following year without securing additional financing, generating more cash or restructuring obligations.
Bally’s has stressed that the analysis is based on funding that was unconditionally available at the time of its review and has maintained that financing for the core Chicago casino remains in place. The company has also continued to publicly state that the gaming facility will open as planned in early 2027.
For now, the central question is whether Bally’s can separate completion of the casino from the wider hotel-and-entertainment resort vision. The casino may open first, while the rest of the complex could be completed later if the VGT conflict and financing issues remain unresolved.
Chicago VGT Dispute Could Shape Full Resort
Chicago’s VGT decision remains politically contentious. City Council approved video gambling as part of the city’s 2026 budget process despite objections from Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration. The terminals are expected to generate a relatively modest amount of city revenue, but Bally’s believes they could weaken the long-term value of the city’s only full casino.
Bally’s has signaled that it wants negotiations with the mayor’s office and City Council, while reserving its legal options. The company has also been reported to be considering withholding a $4 million annual payment due to the city while the disagreement remains unsettled.
The dispute has become more than a policy debate over slot-like machines in bars. It now has direct implications for construction jobs, the scope of the permanent Bally’s casino Chicago project and the revenue Chicago expects from the development.
What Happens Next for Bally’s Casino Chicago
City Council committees are preparing to question Bally’s and the Johnson administration about the development’s status, financing and construction delays. Aldermen want clarity on which parts of the project have stopped, whether funding is sufficient to complete the entire complex and whether the VGT dispute justifies the slowdown.
Meanwhile, Bally’s continues to operate its temporary casino at Medinah Temple in River North. The temporary site remains important because it generates gambling revenue and tax receipts while the permanent River West property is under construction.
The clearest takeaway is that Bally’s casino Chicago is still targeting an early 2027 opening for its permanent gaming facility. But the full $1.7 billion resort is no longer moving at the same pace, and its eventual hotel, theater, restaurant and public-space components may depend on how quickly Bally’s and Chicago resolve the VGT fight and broader financing concerns.
