September 2026 was always expected to be a tight deadline for the opening of Bally’s permanent Chicago casino. Now, state lawmakers are preparing for the possibility that it may not be met.

A bill filed on Thursday in the Illinois General Assembly would allow Bally’s to continue operating its temporary casino for up to an additional year, effectively pushing the possible opening of the $1.8 billion permanent venue into 2027. The proposal is the clearest indication yet that construction delays and regulatory hurdles have placed the original timeline at risk.

Under its host community agreement with the city of Chicago, Bally’s is required to open its permanent casino by September 2026. House Bill 4437, introduced by Representative Kam Buckner, would extend Bally’s temporary casino licence by an initial six months, with the option of two further three-month extensions. If fully utilised, the measure would give Bally’s until September 2027 to complete construction.

Bally’s has operated a temporary casino at the Medinah Temple since 9 September 2023. Illinois law limits temporary casinos to 24 months of operation unless a one-year extension is granted by the Illinois Gaming Board. Bally’s already received that extension in 2023, making new legislation necessary to avoid a forced closure should the permanent site not be ready in time.

A legislative failsafe

Bally’s has characterised the bill as a precaution rather than an admission that it will miss its deadline. The company said the extension would provide “operational certainty” and prevent a shutdown of the temporary casino while construction continues.

“We appreciate the partnership with City leaders and the General Assembly,” said Christopher Jewett, Bally’s senior vice president of corporate development. “This proposed legislation allows us to continue operating responsibly while we advance our permanent facility and deliver on the long-term commitments to Chicago.”

Buckner, however, was more candid about the motivation behind the proposal. Speaking to the *Chicago Sun-Times*, he acknowledged the growing doubts surrounding the project’s timeline. “The whole thing may be in jeopardy, right? It’s fair and healthy to have doubts,” Buckner said. “But the only way to figure that out is to let the process play out another 12 months.”

Construction setbacks and shifting signals

Bally’s began work on the permanent casino at the former Chicago Tribune publishing plant site two years ago, but progress has been uneven. Construction has been interrupted by multiple issues, including work stoppages tied to demolition debris in late 2024 and the use of unapproved contractors in 2025. Potential conflicts with city water infrastructure also forced a significant redesign of the project’s layout.

Financing challenges added to the uncertainty. A funding gap was ultimately closed through a large deal with Gaming and Leisure Properties (GLPI), which now has more than $2 billion committed to Bally’s projects, including $940 million for the Chicago development.

Public signals about the opening timeline have also been mixed. In 2025, GLPI stated that Bally’s expected the property to open in the fourth quarter of 2026, implying a date later than the September deadline. Bally’s did not publicly acknowledge a change at the time. A subsequent GLPI update in December omitted any reference to an opening schedule.

Despite the ambiguity, GLPI has played down the significance of the proposed licence extension. “The timeline to opening remains consistent with our expectations,” said Carlo Santarelli, GLPI’s senior vice president of corporate strategy. He added that an extension of the temporary licence would be “in the best interest of our tenant” but would not materially affect GLPI from a financial standpoint.

Beyond construction delays, Bally’s has faced challenges tied to revenue performance and broader gaming policy in Chicago. The temporary casino has underperformed against city budget expectations, particularly in its early years. In 2025, Bally’s generated $124.6 million in adjusted gross receipts, producing $15.8 million in city tax revenue—below the $16.5 million budgeted. The shortfall was far larger in 2024, when the city projected $35 million but received about $16 million. Buckner pointed to these figures as part of a broader pattern of stalled momentum. “As we enter almost the end of Chicago’s temporary casino licence, we haven’t seen a lot of movement,” he told the *Sun-Times*.

Another looming issue is the potential legalisation of video gaming terminals (VGTs) within Chicago. While VGTs are currently banned in the city, they dominate gaming revenue elsewhere in Illinois, generating $1.1 billion in state and local taxes in 2025—far surpassing casino tax revenues.

Chicago’s 2026 budget anticipates $6.8 million in VGT licensing revenue, assuming widespread adoption among liquor licensees. That assumption remains politically contested, and Bally’s has warned that allowing VGTs could undermine the casino’s economics. The company has said VGTs would threaten a $4 million annual payment it owes the city under the host community agreement and could lead to job losses at the casino.

This proposed legislation allows us to continue operating responsibly while we advance our permanent facility.

A critical year ahead

If enacted, HB 4437 would buy Bally’s time, but it would also extend uncertainty around one of Chicago’s most closely watched development projects. For city leaders, the decision balances the risk of a temporary casino closure against concerns over delays, revenue shortfalls and shifting assumptions about the city’s gaming landscape. For Bally’s, the next year may determine whether the project regains momentum—or whether scepticism about its timeline continues to grow.