Special Committee Formed in Chicago for Casino Development

By Jerry Smith Staff Writer Updated: 09/24/2022

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Special Committee Formed in Chicago

It has been revealed that the Chicago mayor, Lori Lightfoot, has formed a 20-strong committee to deal with plans relating to the up-and-coming Bally’s casino resort. The $1.7 billion resort will be a Las Vegas-style development, and Bally’s has now submitted plans after beating off major competition to be awarded the rights to build an exciting new casino in the downtown area.

It has been around four months since approval was given to Bally’s for the giant resort, and the new committee will be responsible for going through the plans and gathering information.

The new casino development will be part of a huge 30-acre site that will also include a sports museum and many eateries. It is thought that the casino could be ready to open its doors to the public during the early part of 2026.

Opening a Temporary Facility

According to reports, Bally’s Corporation is planning on opening a temporary casino within the Medinah Temple building in Chicago, and it is hoped that this will be ready to open by June next year.

One of the key reasons behind the opening of this temporary venue is to allow training of employees who will then be fully trained and ready to start working at the permanent facility when it finally opens.

At present, the group is awaiting various approvals from authorities in relation to its huge casino resort development. These include local planning and zoning approvals, as well as certification from the Illinois Gaming Board.

Discussing the new committee that has been formed, Mayor Lightfoot said that it would be headed up by officials from the Chicago Department of Transportation, the Mayor’s Office of Community Engagement, and the Chicago Department of Planning and Development. She added that the committee would continue to work hard on the project until the doors to the new casino finally open.

In a statement, the mayor said:

Since beginning the process to secure a Chicago casino, my administration has remained dedicated to ensuring our residents have every opportunity to share their thoughts and concerns about it.

She added that the new committee would offer what she described as a ‘tangible space’ for vital engagement that would enable community stakeholders to have their say before, during, and after the construction of the new facility.

An Exciting Time for Locals and Visitors

The development of the new casino resort marks an exciting time for locals and visitors. There will be huge numbers of slots and table games for casino visitors to enjoy, as well as a host of facilities onsite.

The new development will help to attract visitors to the area, and this could give a much-needed boost to local tourism. In addition, it will bring in more tax dollars for the state, which means a huge positive impact on state finances.

Of course, there is also the added bonus of a wide range of new jobs being created in the area, as the permanent casino resort will be looking to take on team members in all departments.