Bally’s to stop work on some amenities at permanent Chicago casino development amid video gambling dispute
<p>Bally’s is “resetting the pace of construction” on parts of its permanent Chicago casino development in River West, the company said Sunday.</p><p>The announcement comes amid an ongoing dispute over the potential expansion of <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/2026/06/29/ballys-casino-river-west-lori-lightfoot-lawsuit-challenge-video-gambling-terminals" target="_blank" ><u>video gambling terminals</u></a> in the city.</p><p>Bally’s notified the Chicago Community Builders Collective on Saturday that work would stop on some of the surrounding amenities, including the hotel, event center and some restaurants.</p><p>Subcontractors were informed Sunday morning, a spokesperson said, and the work stoppage would most likely take effect Monday.</p><p>The opening of the permanent casino remains set for early 2027, the company said.</p><p>Bally’s said the city had also been alerted to the announcement.</p><p>The company said in a statement that the potential for an “uncontrolled proliferation” of video gambling terminals breaches the city’s commitment not to expand gaming under its host community agreement with Bally’s and “creates uncertainty” that could hurt the casino’s prospects.</p><p>The $16.6 billion 2026 city budget lifted Chicago’s ban on video gambling terminals. Bally’s has opposed their legalization in the city, arguing it violates the host agreement.</p><p>The $1.7 billion casino project has encountered financial and logistical challenges since Bally’s was <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/2022/5/25/23141244/ballys-casino-approved-chicago-city-council-river-west-medinah-temple-lightfoot-police-fire-pensions" target="_blank" ><u>selected</u></a> to build Chicago’s casino in 2022, including an <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/casinos-gambling/2024/03/12/ballys-chicago-casino-buyout-soo-kim" target="_blank" ><u>$800 million</u></a> “funding gap,” <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/2024/1/22/24047289/ballys-casino-hotel-tower-plans-changes-city-hall-chicago-river" target="_blank" ><u>changes to its hotel plans</u></a> and delays that pushed the permanent casino’s expected opening into 2027.</p><p>Bally’s said Sunday the company intends to fully honor its commitments under the host agreement.</p><p>The company acknowledged the construction changes would affect many of the 1,500 union workers affiliated with the project but did not specify exactly how many would be impacted.</p><p>“We do not take this lightly because of the potential impact on many of the 1,500 union tradespeople who have been working hard to build Bally’s Chicago,” Bally’s said.</p><p>The company did not provide a timeline for when work on the affected portions of the development could resume.</p><p>Bally’s said it would continue assessing its options, which the company said it hopes will include “more productive discussions with the Mayor’s Office and City Council.”</p><p>Mayor Brandon Johnson has previously <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/2026/06/29/ballys-casino-river-west-lori-lightfoot-lawsuit-challenge-video-gambling-terminals" target="_blank" ><u>expressed concerns</u></a> that legalizing video gambling terminals could violate the city's host agreement with Bally’s.
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<p>Bally’s is “resetting the pace of construction” on parts of its permanent Chicago casino development in River West, the company said Sunday.</p><p>The announcement comes amid an ongoing dispute over the potential expansion of <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/2026/06/29/ballys-casino-river-west-lori-lightfoot-lawsuit-challenge-video-gambling-terminals" target="_blank" ><u>video gambling terminals</u></a> in the city.</p><p>Bally’s notified the Chicago Community Builders Collective on Saturday that work would stop on some of the surrounding amenities, including the hotel, event center and some restaurants.</p><p>Subcontractors were informed Sunday morning, a spokesperson said, and the work stoppage would most likely take effect Monday.</p><p>The opening of the permanent casino remains set for early 2027, the company said.</p><p>Bally’s said the city had also been alerted to the announcement.</p><p>The company said in a statement that the potential for an “uncontrolled proliferation” of video gambling terminals breaches the city’s commitment not to expand gaming under its host community agreement with Bally’s and “creates uncertainty” that could hurt the casino’s prospects.</p><p>The $16.6 billion 2026 city budget lifted Chicago’s ban on video gambling terminals. Bally’s has opposed their legalization in the city, arguing it violates the host agreement.</p><p>The $1.7 billion casino project has encountered financial and logistical challenges since Bally’s was <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/2022/5/25/23141244/ballys-casino-approved-chicago-city-council-river-west-medinah-temple-lightfoot-police-fire-pensions" target="_blank" ><u>selected</u></a> to build Chicago’s casino in 2022, including an <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/casinos-gambling/2024/03/12/ballys-chicago-casino-buyout-soo-kim" target="_blank" ><u>$800 million</u></a> “funding gap,” <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/2024/1/22/24047289/ballys-casino-hotel-tower-plans-changes-city-hall-chicago-river" target="_blank" ><u>changes to its hotel plans</u></a> and delays that pushed the permanent casino’s expected opening into 2027.</p><p>Bally’s said Sunday the company intends to fully honor its commitments under the host agreement.</p><p>The company acknowledged the construction changes would affect many of the 1,500 union workers affiliated with the project but did not specify exactly how many would be impacted.</p><p>“We do not take this lightly because of the potential impact on many of the 1,500 union tradespeople who have been working hard to build Bally’s Chicago,” Bally’s said.</p><p>The company did not provide a timeline for when work on the affected portions of the development could resume.</p><p>Bally’s said it would continue assessing its options, which the company said it hopes will include “more productive discussions with the Mayor’s Office and City Council.”</p><p>Mayor Brandon Johnson has previously <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/2026/06/29/ballys-casino-river-west-lori-lightfoot-lawsuit-challenge-video-gambling-terminals" target="_blank" ><u>expressed concerns</u></a> that legalizing video gambling terminals could violate the city's host agreement with Bally’s. </p><p>The mayor’s office and CCBC didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment Sunday.</p><p>In June, <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/2026/06/29/ballys-casino-river-west-lori-lightfoot-lawsuit-challenge-video-gambling-terminals" target="_blank" >Bally’s hired former Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s law firm</a> to help potentially sue Chicago over its decision to legalize video gambling terminals.</p>
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- <p>Bally’s is “resetting the pace of construction” on parts of its permanent Chicago casino development in River West, the company said Sunday.</p><p>The announcement comes amid an ongoing dispute over the potential expansion of <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/2026/06/29/ballys-casino-river-west-lori-lightfoot-lawsuit-challenge-video-gambling-terminals" target="_blank" ><u>video gambling terminals</u></a> in the city.</p><p>Bally’s notified the Chicago Community Builders Collective on Saturday that work would stop on some of the surrounding amenities, including the hotel, event center and some restaurants.</p><p>Subcontractors were informed Sunday morning, a spokesperson said, and the work stoppage would most likely take effect Monday.</p><p>The opening of the permanent casino remains set for early 2027, the company said.</p><p>Bally’s said the city had also been alerted to the announcement.</p><p>The company said in a statement that the potential for an “uncontrolled proliferation” of video gambling terminals breaches the city’s commitment not to expand gaming under its host community agreement with Bally’s and “creates uncertainty” that could hurt the casino’s prospects.</p><p>The $16.6 billion 2026 city budget lifted Chicago’s ban on video gambling terminals. Bally’s has opposed their legalization in the city, arguing it violates the host agreement.</p><p>The $1.7 billion casino project has encountered financial and logistical challenges since Bally’s was <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/2022/5/25/23141244/ballys-casino-approved-chicago-city-council-river-west-medinah-temple-lightfoot-police-fire-pensions" target="_blank" ><u>selected</u></a> to build Chicago’s casino in 2022, including an <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/casinos-gambling/2024/03/12/ballys-chicago-casino-buyout-soo-kim" target="_blank" ><u>$800 million</u></a> “funding gap,” <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/2024/1/22/24047289/ballys-casino-hotel-tower-plans-changes-city-hall-chicago-river" target="_blank" ><u>changes to its hotel plans</u></a> and delays that pushed the permanent casino’s expected opening into 2027.</p><p>Bally’s said Sunday the company intends to fully honor its commitments under the host agreement.</p><p>The company acknowledged the construction changes would affect many of the 1,500 union workers affiliated with the project but did not specify exactly how many would be impacted.</p><p>“We do not take this lightly because of the potential impact on many of the 1,500 union tradespeople who have been working hard to build Bally’s Chicago,” Bally’s said.</p><p>The company did not provide a timeline for when work on the affected portions of the development could resume.</p><p>Bally’s said it would continue assessing its options, which the company said it hopes will include “more productive discussions with the Mayor’s Office and City Council.”</p><p>Mayor Brandon Johnson has previously <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/2026/06/29/ballys-casino-river-west-lori-lightfoot-lawsuit-challenge-video-gambling-terminals" target="_blank" ><u>expressed concerns</u></a> that legalizing video gambling terminals could violate the city's host agreement with Bally’s.
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Bally’s to stop work on some amenities at permanent Chicago casino development amid video gambling dispute
Sources1TypeCoverageChicago Sun-Times