Bally's says it paused work at its Chicago casino. The City's CFO told alderpersons she sees no evidence of a stoppage

Casino revenue is pledged to police and fire pensions, and the opening is expected in 2027. At Monday's budget hearing, the CFO said the City is waiting for Bally's to show its work before granting an extension.

By Chicago PoliticsUpdated Oct 27, 2026

The City's budget hearing on revenue and finance, Committee on the Budget, Oct. 26, 2026City of Chicago video

Bally's says it paused construction on parts of its River West casino complex in August. At Monday's City Council budget hearing, the City's top finance official said she has seen no evidence of a work stoppage.

Why it matters: the permanent casino is a City budget line. Under state law, casino tax revenue goes to the police and fire pension funds, two of the City's most underfunded, Chief Financial Officer Ashlee Gabrysch said in her opening statement, adding that the casino is expected to open in the first half of 2027 (watch at 1:11:34). A dispute between the City and its casino operator affects that money, as well as the jobs and the hotel promised in the 2022 deal.

The background

Bally's halted work on the non-casino parts of the project, including a 34-story hotel, a 3,000-seat theater and riverwalk green space, after the City allowed video gaming terminals in bars, restaurants and other businesses, WTTW reported in August. The company says the terminals breach the exclusivity terms of its host community agreement with the City. Bally's says crews are still working on the casino floor, and it made its annual $4 million payment to the City in September, Casino.org reported.

Separately, an excavation subcontractor filed a $3.8 million mechanic's lien over unpaid work on the project, Engineering News-Record reported; Bally's says it has paid its general contracting partnership, which says it is working to resolve the matter.

What was said Monday

Ald. William Conway (34th) asked how the work stoppage had affected the City's casino revenue projections. The answer came from the official who had raised the casino in her opening statement: the City has "no evidence of a work stoppage" (watch at 5:33:46).

She said she had met with lawyers for the company, was waiting for the company to provide evidence of ongoing work, and had visited the site herself. Once Bally's shows continued work, she said, the City would grant an extension, which she described as construction-related. She said the company had agreed to tours of the site and that she would join each one, so that alderpersons see what she sees.

Later, Ald. Raymond Lopez (15th) asked why the budget expects $3.4 million from video gaming next year, about half of what was projected when the Council approved the terminals last year (watch at 8:07:52). The budget office said it cut the estimate based on the number of licenses it now expects to issue.

What our records add

The deal the Council approved. The Council approved Bally's host community agreement 41 to 7 in May 2022, and the casino ordinance 42 to 6. Most current members were not on the Council then.

Video gaming. In February, the Council voted 49 to 0 for a resolution led by Ald. Anthony Beale (9th) and co-sponsored by 13 colleagues, asking the City Clerk to send the Illinois Gaming Board a certified copy of the Council's ordinance allowing video gaming terminals.

How each ward voted

49 yea, 1 absent · Feb 18, 2026 · Adopted

Yea Nay Absent

R2026-0022536: the roll call, the timeline and the documents

What's next

The casino's opening date and any extension are between the administration and Bally's; Conway asked that alderpersons be kept informed. The Council's next regular meetings are Dec. 8 and 9, after the budget hearings end on Nov. 10. Video of Monday's exchange is on the meeting page.

Sources: Chicago Politics: Oct. 26 hearing transcript.