Main article: Bally's Chicago Freedom Center, where the proposed Bally's casino would be located.īally's Corporation proposed to put a $1.6 billion casino and resort, where the current Chicago Tribune Publishing Center, more well known as 'Freedom Center', is.

Bally’s Corporation Chicago Tribune Publishing Center The proposals were due by 23 August 2021. The casino was expected to be open by 2025. Once state approval was gained, a casino could have a temporary gaming location. After a proposal would be accepted by Lightfoot, they would move to the City Council, and finally the Illinois Gaming Board. The operator who would be awarded the license would also be allowed to operate slot machines at the two Chicago airports. It had to include a hotel of up to 500 rooms, restaurants and bars and entertainment venues.

On April 22, 2021, Mayor Lightfoot announced that Chicago was seeking proposals to build and operate a casino. Mayor Lightfoot was hoping for the amendment to include a provision for a city-owned casino, but the amendment did not include that. The amendment allowed up to 4,000 slot machines or gambling table seats. The tax rate would amount to one-third of all tax revenue from a new casino. The primary reason for a casino in Chicago was due to large amount of tax revenue gained, which would amount to approximately $200 million in annual tax revenue. Discussion for a casino in Chicago had been happening for almost 30 years since gambling was allowed in Illinois. When the 2019 amendment was passed, it also allowed a casino in Chicago. In 2019, the state enacted a change (SB0516) to the Riverboat Gambling act which allowed land based casinos. For instance, in 2011, Rivers Casino in Des Plaines had to be built over a shallow pit of water.

Over time these restrictions throughout the state of Illinois were lessened. In 1990, when Illinois enacted the Riverboat Gambling Act, casinos had to be located on a river, and had to set sail during gambling. On May 5, 2022, Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced that the Bally's Tribune site was the choice as the location for a city casino. This included the Bally's Tribune site, the Hard Rock International One Chicago site, and the Rush Street Gaming 78 neighborhood site. After vetoing 2, there were 3 remaining after the first round of selections. The Chicago Casino Proposals is a request for proposals made to the City of Chicago, for the first permanent casino within city limits. A set of proposals for the first casino in Chicago.

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