Bally’s Chicago hotel build stalled 78 days, graffiti on tower
Bally’s says Chicago’s plan to allow VGTs in restaurants & truck stops breaches its exclusive gaming rights.
The hit
Graffiti has covered the top six floors of Bally’s unfinished Chicago hotel tower since around mid-August, according to Casino.org. Bally’s halted non-casino construction after Chicago moved to allow video gaming terminals (VGTs) in restaurants, truck stops & veterans’ halls, which Bally’s says breaches its exclusive casino gaming rights.
Why it matters
The standoff shows how a licensing dispute can freeze a major build even as the operator keeps paying its dues. Bally’s says casino-floor work continues, but the hotel, a 3,000-seat theatre & a public riverwalk space remain on hold. For Chicago, the project was meant to help plug a pension shortfall, while the VGT fight with city lawmakers drags on.
The record
| Construction halted | Aug. 9 |
|---|---|
| Days stalled | 78 days, according to Casino.org |
| Project cost | $1.7bn casino resort |
| Community payment | $4m annual impact payment made to Chicago last month |
What happens next
Watch for any move by Chicago City Council on the VGT rules, which Bally’s is lobbying to reverse via former Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s law firm, Fahner Rosenberg.
Sources: Bally’s Chicago Hotel Graffiti Paints Picture of Stalled Worksite
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