Zona de Azar USA – Bally’s Chicago Casino Shifts Gears to 24/7 Operations Starting Next Week

USA.- December 22th 2023 www.zonadeazar.com Chicago is gearing up for the new year with a non-stop casino experience.

Bally’s, housed temporarily in the historic Medinah Temple, is set to transition into a 24/7 operation beginning Wednesday, Dec. 27, as announced by the Rhode Island-based gaming corporation this week.

Since its opening in September, the casino located at 600 N. Wabash Ave. had been closing its doors from 4 a.m. to 8 a.m.

Executives at Bally’s have identified this limited operating schedule as one contributing factor to the casino’s initially lackluster revenue, with gross revenue totaling about $22 million through November. This generated approximately $2.2 million in tax revenue for Chicago’s depleted police and firefighter pension funds.

Bally’s Chicago Casino at Medinah Temple: What You Need to Know Before You Go

Initially projected by former Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s office to contribute $12.8 million to the city this year, Bally’s received approval from the Illinois Gaming Board to operate 24/7. This decision, along with an expansion of its marketing operations, required regulatory approval.

Mark Wong, General Manager of Bally’s Chicago, stated in a release, “Opening our doors 24/7 is an important step as we continue to increase our visitation. For November, we were the second most visited casino in the state, and we saw our highest guest admissions to date. This is a progression towards attaining the goals we set out to achieve and gives us similar hours to other local casino properties.”

By the end of November, nearly a quarter-million trips had been made through Bally’s turnstiles, according to gaming board records.

Chicago Casino a Sure Bet for Ramp-Up in Gambling Addiction, Experts Say

A cafe within the casino will also operate around the clock, while other restaurants will maintain their usual hours.

Spread across three levels inside the 111-year-old Moorish-style historic landmark, the casino features about 800 slots and 56 table games. The building originally served as the headquarters for the Shriners fraternal organization.

Bally’s anticipates operating at Medinah through September 2026 while concurrently constructing a permanent $1.3 billion casino complex at the intersection of Chicago Avenue and Halsted Street—currently the site of the Chicago Tribune’s printing operation. Construction is expected to commence next summer.

Edited by: @MaiaDigital www.zonadeazar.com