Bally’s Chicago appears set to avoid a potentially costly interruption to its casino operations after Illinois lawmakers included a licence extension measure in a major state revenue package passed during the final days of the legislative session. The move is designed to bridge the gap between the company’s temporary casino and the opening of its long-awaited permanent resort.
For months, Bally’s faced uncertainty as its temporary gaming licence was scheduled to expire on 9 September 2026. With the permanent Chicago casino now expected to open in early 2027, the company risked being forced to shut down its temporary venue for several months, cutting off revenue from one of the most important gaming markets in the United States.
The issue was ultimately addressed through Illinois’ omnibus revenue bill, SB3019, a sweeping piece of legislation exceeding 1,600 pages. Lawmakers approved the bill in both chambers on 1 June, and it is now awaiting the signature of Governor JB Pritzker. Included within the legislation is language allowing the Illinois Gaming Board to extend Bally’s temporary operating licence.
Under the proposed framework, Bally’s could continue operating its temporary casino until 9 September 2027. The legislation would also permit the Illinois Gaming Board to authorise an extension period of up to 18 months, along with as many as two additional three-month extensions if necessary. Given the time already spent operating under the temporary licence, Bally’s would effectively gain up to one additional year of operation if all available extensions are approved.
The extension language closely mirrors provisions contained in a separate bill introduced earlier this year by Illinois Representative Kam Buckner. That standalone proposal, however, failed to advance through the legislative process and remained in committee when the session concluded.
When the original extension proposal was unveiled, Bally’s argued that additional time was essential to maintain uninterrupted operations, preserve jobs and continue delivering economic benefits to Chicago while construction of the permanent casino progresses.
The permanent Bally’s Chicago development, currently under construction in River West, is expected to open during the first quarter of 2027. The project has already secured substantial financial backing, including $940 million in construction financing from Gaming and Leisure Properties, which has also acquired the underlying real estate.