The leaders of Chicago’s first casino say they’re on schedule to move out of their temporary Medinah Temple digs within three years, but legislation advancing in Springfield could end up keeping Bally’s bright lights on in River North well beyond 2026.
The Illinois Senate passed a bill Oct. 24 to amend a state gambling law that currently limits new casinos to 24 months of operation at a temporary site while they build a permanent facility.
For now, operators can ask the Illinois Gaming Board for a 12-month extension, as Bally’s did last month when regulators approved their request to keep Medinah open through Sept. 9, 2026.
