Bally’s Corporation expects to open its permanent Chicago casino by the end of this year. The company hosted a topping-off ceremony at the end of April.
Company CFO Mira Mircheva gave a wide-ranging update on some of the company’s projects across the country in a Nevada Gaming Control Board meeting. It included updates on its Windy City casinos and Las Vegas projects.
According to a report from CDC Gaming, Mircheva said construction on the Chicago casino was on schedule.
“We had some weather delays earlier in the year, but we’re moving very quickly and working toward targeting the project for the end of 2026,” Mircheva said.
Working Out Of Temporary Location For Three Years
City and state officials approved their Chicago casino in 2023. The $1.7 billion casino and hotel will include 3,400 slots, 170 table games, 10 food and beverage venues, a 500-room hotel tower with a rooftop bar, a 65,000-square-foot entertainment center, and a 20,000-square-foot outdoor music venue.
The project has seen some ups and down along the way. The bumps in the road ranged from plumbing issues that caused a hotel relocation to a construction pause because of a waste-hauling company’s alleged links to organized crime.
Bally’s has operated a temporary casino in the city since 2023. For card players, Bally’s released a sneak peak of the casino’s poker room in December. They will build it in a mezzanine above the casino floor near exhibition and meeting space.
Mircheva seemed unconcerned about the city recently approving video terminal gaming at various locations around the city.
“We have made public comments around that,” Mircheva said. “Obviously, we don’t think that’s the outcome for the city and we will see how approvals come along and how that moves forward. We’re constructing an integrated resort that will offer slot machines and table games, entertainment and dining venues, a convention center with a lot of conferences and conventions in Chicago. We offer a distinctive product that will bring substantial value to the community.”
Las Vegas Stadium Projects Moving Forward
Beyond Chicago, Mircheva offered a look at projects in Las Vegas and New York. A stadium for the A’s baseball team is currently under construction on the Las Vegas Strip at the former home of the Tropicana.
The company expects to open retail establishments surrounding the venue at the same time the $2 billion baseball stadium is unveiled for the 2028 MLB season, Mircheva noted. However, a casino and hotel would open at a later date.
Plans for retail, a casino, and hotel have been submitted to the Clark County officials. Bally’s is also awaiting approval from the Federal Aviation Administration as the project is located near Harry Reid International Airport.
“In the meantime, we’re continuing to develop plans for the project with retail, entertainment, and dining, phase one of the project,” Mircheva said. “The podium designs are progressing and we’re in active negotiations with national tenants for retail, entertainment, and restaurant venues.
“The priority is construction of the stadium and as we’re waiting for entitlement approval and further development of the plans that will obviously dictate the timeline, but I expect amenities to follow the completion of the A’s stadium, hopefully closely.”
Still In The Early Stages Of New York City Casino
In New York City, Bally’s won one of three downstate casino licenses in December. The company is constructing a $4 billion casino in the Bronx and has now paid for the gaming license, Mircheva said.
The company has also officially paid $157 million for property that housed a clubhouse and parking area for Ferry Point golf course, which was once owned by Donald Trump.
The casino resort will include a 500,000 square-foot casino, 500-room hotel, spa, meeting space, a 2,000-seat event center, shopping options, and more. Mircheva said the project was still in the early stages.
“We’re working on the project with various permits and moving toward demolition of the clubhouse and getting monitoring in place,” Mircheva said. “Bally’s has already invested a substantial amount of equity and is actively securing the remaining financing for the $4 billion project.”
Along with the Bally’s casino, New York gaming officials also approved the Metropolitan Park project in Queens. Plans call for a Hard Rock casino, a 25-acre public park, shopping, restaurants, bike paths, and more on a 50-acre parking lot adjacent to Citi Field.
Genting Group’s $5.5 billion expansion of Resorts World at the Aqueduct Racetrack in the Bronx received a license as well. That project is already operational, launching its table games area in April.
