Bally's Chicago to run 24/7, eyeing increased revenue and footfall

Bally's Chicago has received the green light from the Illinois Gaming Board to operate 24/7, providing gamblers with the opportunity to roll the dice at any hour of the day or night, effective December 27. 

The temporary casino at Medinah temple has been operating on a 20-hour daily schedule since opening in September this year. Despite being ranked second in admissions among Illinois’ 15 casinos, it ranked fourth in revenue. Bally’s had earlier stated that going 24/7 would help it get more traction from the longer working hours and, hence, higher revenues.

“Opening our doors 24/7 is an important step as we continue to increase our visitation. This is a progression toward attaining the goals we set out to achieve and gives us similar hours to other local casino properties,” said Mark Wong, Vice President and General Manager of Bally’s Chicago.

In November, Bally’s Chicago matched October's revenue, recording just over $7.6 million in adjusted gross receipts. Visitor numbers climbed, reaching 86,459, a surge of over 3,000 from the previous month. With operations now turning 24/7, including the dining service at its Wabash Cafe and Bally’s adding discounted parking and expanded shuttle service, the casino is hoping to ramp up those revenue figures.

Medina Temple serves as a temporary abode for Bally's, which will relocate to River West in 2026. The Rhode Island-based Bally's was selected by the city last year to construct a $1.74 billion casino at the 30-acre Freedom Center printing plant site. With a 12-month extension from the Gaming Board in October, the casino can operate at its temporary Medinah Temple facility for up to three years.

The gambling landscape in Illinois became intensely competitive after the introduction of the gambling expansion bill in 2019. This move led to the issuance of six new casino licenses for land-based facilities, allowing operations 24/7. Consequently, most casinos in the state have since remained open continuously, with Bally's now joining this league as well.

Bally's top competitor remains Rivers Casino Des Plaines, which recorded $43.5 million in adjusted gross receipts and 249,000 admissions, surpassing all other casinos in the state in both parameters.