TLDR Twenty-eight Chicago alderpersons sent a letter demanding Bally’s resume full construction on its casino development. Bally’s paused work on the hotel, event center and some restaurants at the River West site. The company blames the pause on the city’s decision to legalize video gaming terminals. Some council members say the slowdown may be tied to Bally’s cash flow instead. The casino floor construction is continuing, with the permanent property still set to open in early 2027.
Chicago’s City Council is pushing back against Bally’s Corporation after the company slowed construction on parts of its casino project. Twenty-eight alderpersons signed a letter this week asking Mayor Brandon Johnson to enforce the city’s agreement with the company.
The letter follows an announcement from Bally’s on Sunday. The company said it was “resetting the pace of construction” on non-gaming parts of its River West development.
Those parts include a planned hotel, an event center and several restaurants. The casino floor itself is not affected. Bally’s says the permanent property is still expected to open in early 2027.
Why Bally’s Says It Slowed Down
Bally’s has pointed to Chicago’s decision to legalize video gaming terminals as the reason for the pause. The company argues that allowing these terminals in other locations across the city could pull revenue away from its casino.
Bally’s has said the terminal legalization conflicts with its host community agreement with the city. The company has warned the change could cost Chicago as much as $74 million in yearly revenue. It also says up to 1,050 casino jobs could be at risk.
In June, Bally’s hired the law firm of former Mayor Lori Lightfoot as it weighed legal action over the terminal decision.
Council Members Question the Reasoning
Not everyone on the council accepts that explanation. Alderman