A permit was given to start work inside the main casino building at Bally's Chicago permanent casino site.
This is an important step in building the $1.7 billion casino resort in Chicago’s River West neighborhood because of recent delays. The casino is being built where the Chicago Tribune Freedom Center printing plant used to be, covering 30 acres along the Chicago River.
Designed by HKS Architects, the project will include a 500-room hotel tower, a theater with 3,000 seats, six restaurants, cafes and a food hall, and a public park that is 2 acres big.
This will be Chicago’s first full-scale permanent casino resort and one of the largest in Illinois. It promises to bring gaming, entertainment, jobs, and improved public spaces along the riverfront.
Bally's Casino Chicago: Key Details
The layout of the project focuses on making it easy for people to access the river and enjoy public spaces.
Location: The casino will be located at 705 W. Chicago Ave, though some reports also list it as 777 W. Chicago Ave. It is bordered by W. Chicago Avenue to the north, N. Halsted Street to the west, and the Chicago River. Plans include a longer riverwalk along the riverbank, stretching about 2,000 feet.
Design: Created by HKS Architects, the project has a modern look with a tall, 34- or 35-story hotel tower made of glass and metal. This tower will stand out along the riverfront skyline. The casino building itself will be shorter, with seven to eight stories.
Main Components:
- The casino floor will hold about 3,300 slot machines, 173 table games, special VIP areas, a separate baccarat room, and a 50-table poker room.
- There will be a 500-room hotel tower.
- A 3,000-seat theater will be part of an event center.
- Six restaurants, cafes, a 15,000-square-foot food hall, and outdoor dining options will be available, including spots along the river and on a rooftop.
- Other features include a 2-acre public park, bird-friendly glass, a pool/spa/gym, and a large parking garage with about 3,300 spaces.
There will be around 4,000 gaming positions in total, counting slots and table games. Interior designs show the gaming floor with stone floors, custom carpets, white ceilings, and wooden accents, along with special areas for poker and high-limit gaming.
Construction Status on the Chicago Casino
Construction is happening quickly and you can see the progress:
- The foundation and caisson work are finished.
- Steel frames for the casino building are going up, reaching as high as seven stories in some areas.
- The hotel tower is being built upwards, with cranes and concrete work continuing.
- Glass exterior walls are starting to appear in sections.
- Recent permits cover the basic structure and outer shell for both buildings, and now the inside work for the casino is starting.
The Chicago Community Builders Collective is the main contractor for the project.
Timeline For the Bally's Casino in Chicago
The casino was originally set to open in late 2026, around September, according to some agreements. However, construction delays have occurred and some precautions have already been taken, including:
- In January, Bally's backed a bill (HB 4437) to extend the temporary casino license at Medinah Temple (in River North) by up to 12 months, possibly until September 2027. This extension would help if the permanent site isn't ready on time.
- There are concerns about meeting the 2026 deadline due to the project's size and earlier setbacks, although late 2026 is still seen as the target.
- The agreement with the city connects the temporary casino's operation to the opening of the permanent site.
While Bally's temporary casino is generating revenue, it hasn't produced significant new tax contributions for the city. Despite these challenges, visible progress continues.
