A majority of Chicago City Council members is threatening hearings and possible legal action against Bally's after the operator said it would slow construction of the non-gaming parts of its $1.7 billion River West casino complex.
28 council members signed a letter demanding that Mayor Brandon Johnson hold the company to its 2022 agreement: the hotel, event centre, restaurant area and riverwalk. Bally's blames the pause on Chicago's legalisation of video gaming terminals, which it calls a breach of the Host Community Agreement. The council lifted the VGT ban in March and budgeted $6.8 million in licence fees.
Not every alderman buys that. 'Many of us suspect it's about cash flow,' council member Brendan Reilly said. 'The company itself told investors about debt over $5 billion and a heavy debt load.' Anthony Beale, who lobbied for the terminals, floated the idea of another operator if Bally's cannot deliver.
Bally's says the VGTs would cost Chicago up to $74 million in annual revenue and up to 1,050 jobs, force the agreement to be reopened and could wipe out its $4 million yearly payment to the city. It has not ruled out a lawsuit. The project has stumbled from the start: an $800 million financing gap, and the permanent site pushed to 2027. Mayor Johnson opposed the VGTs and urged the council to reverse its decision.
