Chicago City Wire

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot on May 5 announced that Bally's Corporation has been selected as the winning bidder to establish Chicago's first casino.

"I am proud to announce that Bally's Corporation will create a world-class entertainment district in our city that will delight residents and tourists alike," Lightfoot said. "Following significant analyses and community input on all aspects of our three finalists for Chicago's casino license, the selection committee and I have chosen Bally's to move forward in the development of the city's first integrated casino resort. We are confident that Bally's Tribune Publishing Center development will shore up the city's pension funds, create thousands of good-paying jobs, and lead to a bright financial future for our city."

Beniamino Capellupo, a senior advisor to Lightfoot, tweeted, "The Bally's Chicago casino will create more than 3,000 construction jobs a year and 3,000 permanent family sustaining jobs. From day one of this process @chicagosmayor has made it very clear that labor peace was an essential requirement for this project to move forward!"

"We would like to thank Mayor Lightfoot and her office for conducting a tough, but fair, RFP process, and selecting Bally's Chicago as the final bidder for the City's casino," Chairman of Bally's Corporation Board of Directors Soo Kim said. "Chicago is a unique and vibrant city, deserving of world-class gaming and entertainment destination that is of, by, and for the people by driving the local economy, supporting local labor, creating multigenerational wealth for minority investors, and showcasing the best of what the city has to offer. We look forward to continuing to work collaboratively with Mayor Lightfoot, and all of our valued community partners on this exciting endeavor."

Bally's proposal includes a $1.7 billion casino project that will be established at the Tribune Publishing Center, according to a press release. The project will include a hotel tower with 500 rooms, an expansion of the Riverwalk, an outdoor park, six restaurants, and a theater with 3,000 seats. Bally's offered the city of Chicago a $40 million upfront payment and agreed to paying an additional $4 million per year. Bally's also reached an agreement with organized labor, committing to 60% minority hiring. After the City Council and Illinois Gaming Board give their stamps of approval, the formal development process will begin.