Bally’s Receives Approval for Chicago Casino Project

Bally’s Corporation, the global casino-entertainment company, confirmed Thursday it secured a major approval for its Bally’s Chicago Casino project. The company revealed that the project was greenlighted by the Chicago Department of Planning and Urban Development earlier this week.

This approval marked a milestone moment for the project as Bally’s now solidifies its plans to start the construction of the new gaming, leisure and entertainment location. The ambitious project has a price tag of $1.7 billion. It is expected to create some 3,000 permanent jobs for the city, which is a testament to the scale of Bally’s Chicago Casino and the different amenities it will offer.

“Inspired by the city’s interplay—grit and grandeur, structure and the organic, historically-charged and cutting-edge—the design of Bally’s Chicago creates a sense of wonder and adventure accessible to everyone.“

Joyen Vakil, senior vice president of design and development at Bally’s Corporation

Joyen Vakil, Bally’s senior vice president of design and development, spoke about the inspiration for the design of Bally’s Chicago Casino. He acknowledged that the city helped inspire the project that brings a unique sense of adventure and wonder.

Additionally, Vakil noted that the billion-dollar project fuses “nature and wellness through the addition of numerous public plazas and parks.” According to him, the design of the new destination will help deliver unique experiences for the visitors. Finally, Vakil acknowledged that the efforts of contractors and businesses within the project will help “bring to life this one-of-a-kind urban space.”

“The unique and exciting design celebrates Chicago’s motto, urbs in horto – city in a garden – and creates a dynamic public realm on site,“

added Vakil

Bally’s Chicago Casino to Deliver Plenty of Amenities

The billion-dollar destination casino is planned to use a 30-acre on the Chicago Tribune Publishing Center. The unique project is expected to bring significant economic stimulus for the city and the region, resulting in a boost in tourism and visitation. Bally’s Chicago Casino is planned to include food halls, restaurants, as well as a theater and event space.

In addition to the casino, there will be plenty of other non-gambling entertainment options such as a museum and exhibition area. It’s no surprise that a project of such scale will feature luxury hotel rooms, as well as outdoor community park spaces. Those green spaces can be used for different activities such as farmers’ markets and art fairs.

Many Chicago-based, as well as minority-owned businesses will participate in the development of Bally’s billion-dollar project. The construction of the mixed-use entertainment and casino location is expected to start late in 2024.