Bally’s executives said Thursday they hope to have their $1.7 billion casino and entertainment complex in River West “substantially completed” by the end of this year and do not anticipate needing all of a proposed yearlong extension now pending in Springfield.
The bill that State Rep. Kam Buckner (D-Chicago) introduced last week at Bally’s behest would extend the casino giant’s license to operate its temporary casino at Medinah Temple until September 2027.
That would give Bally’s up to another year to complete and open the mega-project, which is now 13.8% complete.
But the Bally’s team assured City Council members on Thursday the mega-casino that Chicago mayors have coveted for decades is “on track to speed through completion,” and they have no intention of needing or using the entire one-year extension.
