Overview
- State Rep. Kam Buckner introduced legislation to add up to 12 months to Bally’s temporary license at Medinah Temple, structured as a six-month extension with two optional three-month add-ons.
- Bally’s said it remains committed to completing the $1.7 billion River West complex and would continue operating at Medinah Temple through September 2027 if needed.
- Construction has been disrupted by a city-ordered demolition halt after debris entered the Chicago River in 2024 and by a May 2025 Illinois Gaming Board work stoppage over an unauthorized waste hauler.
- Project plans were revised to shift the 34-story hotel tower to protect municipal water infrastructure along the river.
- The temporary Medinah casino has trailed projections, with nearly $125 million in adjusted gross receipts and 1.3 million visitors last year, while Illinois casinos collectively grew AGR 15% to more than $1.9 billion in 2025.