Bally’s temporary casino housed within the Medinah Temple building in River North has kicked off the New Year with a robust performance, surpassing $10 million in gross gaming revenue in January. This figure marks an increase of $6.8 million from its inaugural month of operation back in September and reflects a 9.1% rise from December’s revenue.
Despite adverse weather conditions, Bally’s Chicago casino stood out as the sole Illinois property to exhibit month-over-month revenue growth, attributing its success to amenities such as free parking and shuttle services.
Mark Wong, vice president and general manager of Bally’s Chicago, expressed satisfaction with the casino’s performance, stating: “January was our highest Gaming Revenue month to date, and we continue to see strong visitor counts.” He added, “More customers are taking advantage of our free parking and free shuttle service, which continues to grow in popularity.”
Since its inception in September, the Medinah Temple casino has witnessed steady growth in monthly gross gaming revenue, climbing from $6.8 million to $10.8 million. Notably, admissions have exceeded 88,000, marking the second-highest in the state.
Moreover, Bally’s highlighted its commitment to fostering diversity in its workforce, with over 620 employees, 82% of whom are minorities, over half being women, and 63% residing in Chicago.
However, the new casino’s profits fell below expectations in its initial three months of operation. Illinois Gaming Board records indicate that the casino generated $30 million in profit during this period, translating to $3.1 million for the city.
This figure fell short of the city’s forecasted revenue of $12.8 million, resulting in a $9.7 million deficit in funds allocated for Chicago’s police and fire pensions.
Looking ahead, Bally’s is gearing up to break ground on its permanent site in River West later this year, with plans for the new location to open its doors in 2026.