After years of hurdles and setbacks, Chicago’s first casino somewhat controversially opened in River North’s landmark Medinah Temple back in September.
The city selected Rhode Island-based Bally’s from several suitors hoping to operate the first and only casino located in Chicago. Bally’s Casino in Medinah Temple is just a temporary spot however, while construction is carried out on a $1.7 billion and 30-acre permanent site at the Chicago Tribune Publishing Center in River West.
With regulators limiting temporary facilities to two years of operation Bally’s was then recently granted an extra year’s extension meaning the temporary Medinah Temple casino will now fulfil its maximum allotted time before moving to the mega casino complex in River West in 2026.
Today marks another milestone in the casino’s development after the Illinois Gaming Board gave the casino the green light to operate around the clock. In a bid to get more traction from the longer working hours, the casino will now invite gamblers in 24 hours a day from today on.
“Opening our doors 24/7 is an important step as we continue to increase our visitation. This is a progression toward attaining the goals we set out to achieve and gives us similar hours to other local casino properties,” said Mark Wong, Vice President and General Manager of Bally’s Chicago.
Before today Chicago’s only casino, which features 750 slot machines, 55 table games, two restaurants, and a cafe, was open from 8 am until 4 am seven days a week.
More information can be found at casinos.ballys.com/chicago.
[Featured image from Bally’s]