written and last updated by
Sam Smith at
16 Jun 2023
Journalist, Editorial Department
Illinois gaming regulators have provisionally approved a plan to open a temporary Bally's casino in Chicago, following a recent vote. The casino will operate in the historic Medina Temple while a permanent facility is constructed on the site of the Chicago Tribune printing plant, which is expected to open in the latter half of 2026.
Bally's Chairman Soo Kim remarked, "We asked the city and the community to bet on Bally's, and like any good casino, we pay out winning bets. We have a lot of work ahead of us." Kim indicated that nearly everything is ready at the temporary site, with an opening anticipated for late July or early August. However, a company representative later clarified the timeline, stating that they "hope to open by the end of summer, pending gaming license approval." According to casino administration, there have already been 11,000 applications submitted for 700 positions at the temporary venue.
Before the vote, Marcus Fruchter, administrator of the Illinois Gaming Board, described the decision as "a very significant and important step," but cautioned that "this is not the final act in the opera." Bally's still needs to navigate the last regulatory hurdles, including a test launch of slot machines and table games. If successful, the Medina Temple casino could begin operations within a few weeks.
Soo Kim expressed optimism about the timeline, stating, "We want to move as quickly as possible," and added that the company has all the games "ready to go."
Initially, Bally's planned to open the temporary gaming facility near the future permanent casino in River West. However, the Medina Temple—a historic building constructed in 1912—was ultimately chosen. The venue has previously hosted performances by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Detroit Shrine Circus.
As a reminder, the Ontario iGaming market created over 12,000 jobs in its first year.
