Chicago aldermen pressed casino representativesearlier this week over construction delays, worker layoffs, and threatened pension revenues surrounding the $1.7 billion casino project – the only such casino in the city.
Bally’s recently paused non-gambling related construction, fearing competition if Chicago approves local video gaming terminal, VGT, licenses.
Alderman Brendan Reilly criticized the developer’s financial standing and weak returns from its temporary casino.
“Many of us thought that the projections both for the temporary casino and for the permanent casino were grossly inflated,” Reilly said. “We were reassured by the previous administration that ‘no, no, no, the temporary casino is going to do gangbusters and we’re going to meet all these expectations.’ I didn’t believe it.”
