Bally’s Chicago Casino May Miss 2026 Opening, Seeks Extension for Temporary Site

^{Soo Kim, chairman of Bally’s Corporation. The company is seeking an extension to keep its temporary Chicago casino open as construction issues delay the opening of its permanent site. (Photo: Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune/TNS via ZUMA Press Wire)}

Bally’s Chicago may need to keep its temporary Medinah Temple location open longer than expected, as construction delays threaten the opening timeline for their permanent casino in River West.

The license that allows Bally’s to operate its temporary facility will expire this September, which may be too early for construction to be complete at the former Chicago Tribune press building. 

Bill Would Allow for Up to 12 Months of Extensions

To address the possible delays, Illinois State Representative Kam Buckner (D-Chicago) has filed legislation that would allow the Illinois Gaming Board to issue further extensions on the temporary casino’s license. The bill would allow initially for a six-month extension, along with the option for two additional three-month extensions for a total of 12 extra months.

Under Bally’s agreement with the city of Chicago, the permanent casino is required to be opened by September 2026. However, the city also has the right to grant up to eight months of extensions on that timeline. Any further delays would require the two sides to renegotiate changes to the current agreement. 

While Bally’s acknowledged that the extensions at the temporary site may be necessary, it also reiterated its intention to meet the September 2026 deadline.

“Bally’s Chicago remains fully committed to the construction of its permanent casino and entertainment destination and will continue operating at Medinah Temple in accordance with all regulatory requirements during the extension period,” Bally’s wrote in a statement. “The adjusted timeline allows for Bally’s Chicago to operate the temporary casino inside of Medinah Temple through September 2027, if needed.”

Construction Plagued by Delays, Controversies

While construction has been underway at the permanent casino site since August 2024, the project has been fraught with controversies and delays.

In May 2025, the Illinois Gaming Board forced construction to halt at the site after it was found that an unauthorized waste hauler named D&P Construction Co. Inc. – which had alleged organized crime ties – had been working at the construction site. That stopped work on the site for about two weeks before officials were satisfied that Bally’s was better vetting its vendors and partners.

Bally’s first earned its Chicago casino license in 2022, when it announced plans to build a $1.7 billion complex. But financial issues led to questions over whether the project would even be able to be completed, as Bally’s carried a heavy debt load and even acknowledged that it was about $800 million short on funding for the complex in early 2024. However, sufficient funding to complete the casino was secured in July 2024. 

In the meantime, the temporary casino at Medinah Temple has become one of the top gaming destinations in Chicago. But even that facility hasn’t been without controversy.

In December 2025, Bally's faced backlash after an asylum-seeking immigrant in the United States was denied a jackpot of about $1,200 at Bally’s Chicago. The player, who chose to remain anonymous when sharing his story with the media, said that he provided his REAL ID compliant identification that proved he was a legal immigrant to casino employees, but was denied a hand payout. After the story gained attention via media reports, Bally’s Chicago apologies and paid out the jackpot win.