Chicago aldermen question Bally’s over River West casino construction pause
Bally’s says the City Council’s video gambling vote forced a reset of hotel and amenity work, while aldermen accuse the operator of using the dispute to mask financial strain.
US.- Chicago aldermen have questioned senior Bally’s executives over a pause in the construction of non-gaming amenities at the company’s $1.7bn River West casino. The operator said the City Council’s legalisation of video gambling terminals forced it to reset parts of the project, while aldermen accuse the operator of using the dispute to mask financial strain.
The Licence and Consumer Protection Committee hearing at City Hall on Wednesday lasted more than three hours. George Papanier, Bally’s president and interim chief financial officer, and Kim Barker, executive vice president and chief legal officer, appeared for the company.
Bally’s told the Chicago Community Builders Collective in August that it was resetting the pace of work on the planned hotel, event space, restaurants and other amenities. The company said the core casino remains scheduled to open in early 2027.
Papanier said Chicago’s inclusion of VGTs in the 2026 budget had changed the project’s financial assumptions by possibly “adding several casinos within the marketplace where we thought we had a form of exclusivity in.” He said VGTs could have “anywhere from a 30 to a 50 per cent impact on top line revenue” and that it would be “irresponsible” to proceed with non-required amenities until the market is clearer.
He said Bally’s would still deliver the event centre, 100 of the planned 500 hotel rooms and the required food and beverage components.
Kim Barker, Bally’s executive vice president and chief legal officer, said: “The host community agreement does allow for a phased development of this project, and so the actions that Bally’s took with respect to rephasing this project are in complete alignment and compliance.”
Aldermen pressed the company on its finances, unpaid contractors and the recent departure of Bally’s chief financial officer.
The Illinois Gaming Board has approved 65 applications for Chicago VGTs, The 2026 budget forecasts on $6.8m in video gambling revenue.
