Bally’s Corporation has presented plans with a casino scheduled to open in September 2026 in Chicago, United States.
The company also signed a term sheet for $940 million in construction financing with Gaming and Leisure Properties (GLPI) for the project. Along with other financing transactions, GLPI expects to finance $2.07 billion for Bally’s.
Bally’s casino project
Pending approval from the Chicago Department of Planning and Development, the project calls for a 500-room, 34-story hotel tower at the southern end of the casino development.
The development will be located near Ohio Street, along the Chicago River. The hotel tower will include a large swimming pool, spa, fitness center and solarium, as well as a rooftop restaurant-bar.
The tower was relocated earlier this year “due to unforeseen underground infrastructure and an adjusted design for a two-phase hotel was approved.”
Meanwhile, the casino will feature approximately 3,300 slot machines, 173 table games and VIP gaming areas.
George Papanier, President of Bally’s Corporation, commented: “We have been working hard in the background to restore the complete hotel tower for Bally’s Chicago Casino. We aim to meet the September 2026 opening date as planned.”
We are also pleased to announce that Gaming and Leisure Properties has agreed to finance the entire development in a single phase to ultimately deliver a better project more efficiently.”
Located at 777 W. Chicago Avenue, Bally’s took possession of the site earlier this month on July 5, and preparations by Brandenburg Industrial Service Company to demolish the site have already begun.
Benefits for the population
The development will generate approximately 3,000 construction jobs and 3,000 casino jobs when Bally’s Chicago enters permanent operation.
“With the keys to the property in hand, new financing secured, a site plan that exceeds the original, and demolition scheduled to begin this summer. So there is no doubt that Bally’s Chicago Casino and Hotel will soon rise along the Chicago River,” Papanier added.
Bally’s noted that Chicago Casino will leverage the riverfront location with dynamic and inclusive spaces. Thus, together with the hotel tower and casino, the project includes:
- A theater with 3,000 seats
- Six restaurants
- Cafes
- food hall
- A public park
This way, the property will also be connected to the lower bank of the river. It will be done via a 2,000-foot-long extension of the riverwalk that extends south of W. Chicago Avenue.
Christopher Jewett, senior vice president of corporate development for Bally’s Corporation, stated, “The enhanced site plan for Bally’s Chicago offers all 500 hotel rooms as part of a single-phase development plan.”
“Therefore, it protects all essential infrastructure and elevates the grandeur of our long-awaited permanent casino development. “We look forward to working with city officials to ensure approval of our revised site plan.”
HKS Takes on Design of Bally’s Chicago Casino
Renderings of Bally’s Chicago Casino were created by global design firm HKS. While the Chicago Community Builders Collective, a minority-led construction partnership, is ready to implement the enhanced site plan.
“We are proud to be part of the new site plan for Bally’s Chicago Casino. The project highlights the commitment to innovative and iconic design that preserves essential infrastructure,” said Jess Corrigan, Partner and Director of Commercial Mixed Use Regional Practice at HKS.
“In addition, it also elevates the architectural magnificence of Chicago’s skyline. We look forward to collaborating with Bally’s and city officials to bring this ambitious project to life,” added Corrigan.
Jimmy Akintonde, CCBC member and President and CEO of Ujamaa Construction, stated, “We at the Chicago Community Builders Collective are excited about the future of Bally’s Chicago Casino. We are excited to see this project come to fruition. We look forward to the positive impact of this project in Chicago and we are committed to ensuring its success.”