The Illinois Gaming Board said construction on Bally’s Chicago casino could resume after it reviewed the project’s use of vendors. The board said no unapproved vendors were currently working on the site, and that Bally’s had addressed disclosure failures and committed to disclose future vendors.
The board’s decision allows the casino construction project to proceed under strengthened vendor disclosure and oversight requirements.
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Illinois state Representative Kam Buckner introduced a bill proposing to extend Bally’s Chicago’s temporary casino licence beyond its September 2026 expiry. The proposal allows six months initially, with two possible three-month extensions, potentially keeping the Medinah Temple casino open through September 2027; Bally’s said it remains committed to its permanent casino project.
Illinois state Senator Patrick Joyce filed SB 2760, which would reduce Chicago’s share of state revenue distributions by the amount the city collects through sports wagering fees or surcharges. The proposal comes as Chicago’s 2026 budget, including a 10.25% tax on city-based sports betting operators’ revenue, is due to take effect; Mayor Brandon Johnson said he would neither sign nor veto the budget ordinance.
Illinois lawmakers passed an omnibus revenue bill on 1 June that would allow the Illinois Gaming Board to extend Bally’s temporary Chicago casino licence. The bill awaits Governor JB Pritzker’s signature; its provisions allow up to 18 months’ extension, plus no more than two additional three-month extensions, while the report says the licence could run to 9 September 2027.
Bally’s said on 23 April it was extending its IPO for the $1.7 billion Chicago casino project, with preferential allocations for Chicago and Illinois residents. The revised offering follows lawsuits over the previous restriction to women and minority investors; the company’s host-community agreement requires one quarter of ownership to go to minority individuals and minority-owned and controlled businesses.
A federal judge dissolved the preliminary injunction that had prevented Nevada authorities from taking enforcement action against KalshiEx, the Nevada Gaming Control Board said. Kalshi is seeking an emergency stay while appealing, and the Board said it would oppose that request; Robinhood agreed in principle to halt new sports event contracts for Nevada customers during litigation.