New Casino Near Chicago



Chicago finally has its own casino. After years of political wrangling, failed bids, and endless waiting, Bally's Chicago opened its temporary facility at the historic Medinah Temple in River North. If you've been driving past that building wondering what the lines are like, or whether it's actually worth your time compared to the established spots in Indiana, here's the honest breakdown.

Bally's Temporary Casino at Medinah Temple

Let's be clear about what this is: a preview. Bally's is operating out of the Medinah Temple while their permanent $1.7 billion resort rises at the Chicago Tribune publishing site. The temporary venue opened in September 2023, and it's not some pop-up tent—it's a fully functional casino with roughly 800 slot machines and 50 table games spread across 34,000 square feet. The architecture is genuinely striking; those mosaic ceilings and ornate fixtures weren't built for gambling, but they make a hell of a backdrop for it.

The game floor isn't massive by Vegas standards, but it's dense. You'll find all the usual suspects: blackjack, roulette, craps, baccarat, and a surprisingly robust selection of electronic table games for those who prefer to avoid the human element. Minimums vary wildly depending on the night—don't be shocked to see $25 blackjack tables on a Friday and $10 tables on a Tuesday afternoon. The sportsbook is operational, though smaller than what you'd find at the Horseshoe in Hammond.

The Permanent Bally's Chicago Location

The actual resort won't open until 2026 at the earliest. The permanent site at Chicago Avenue and Halsted Street will be a completely different animal—a 500,000-square-foot casino floor, a 500-room hotel, a 3,000-seat theater, and enough restaurant space to make it a legitimate destination. The city's counting on it for tax revenue; Chicago is expecting around $200 million annually once it's fully operational, which is why the project got fast-tracked through zoning and approvals.

For now, Medinah Temple is what you get. It's walkable from most downtown hotels, which is its main advantage over the Indiana competition. No bridge traffic, no tolls, no hour-long drives home at 2 AM.

Comparing Chicago Area Casino Options

The Chicago area is unusual in that its casino landscape spans two states, and the difference in experience is stark. Here's how the main options stack up:

Casino	Location	Approx. Gaming Floor	Key Feature
Bally's Chicago (Temp)	River North, IL	34,000 sq ft	Walkable downtown location
Horseshoe Hammond	Hammond, IN	350,000 sq ft	Largest in area, full resort
Ameristar	East Chicago, IN	56,000 sq ft	24-hour gaming, attached hotel
Rivers Casino	Des Plaines, IL	147,000 sq ft	Closest to O'Hare area

If you're coming from the suburbs or Indiana, Bally's temporary spot might not justify the trip. The Horseshoe in Hammond remains the heavy hitter for serious players—it's simply bigger, has more table variety, and offers poker tournaments that actually matter. But if you're staying in the city or live in a neighborhood with decent L access, Bally's eliminates the logistical headache.

Online Casino Alternatives in Illinois

Here's the part most guides won't tell you: Illinois hasn't legalized real-money online casinos yet. You can bet on sports through apps like DraftKings, FanDuel, and BetRivers, but if you want to play slots or table games on your phone for real money, you're out of luck legally. That might change—there's been legislative chatter about expanding online gambling to close budget gaps—but for now, you're physically driving to a casino or crossing state lines.

Neighboring states have different rules. Michigan has full online casino legalization, meaning if you're willing to cross the border, you can play from your hotel room. Indiana allows online sports betting but not casino games. This patchwork is frustrating for Chicago players, and it's part of why Bally's physical location matters—it's the only game in town proper.

What Games to Expect at Bally's Chicago

The slot selection at Medinah Temple leans modern. You're looking at mostly video reels with progressive jackpots, plus a handful of classic three-reel machines for purists. Denominations start at a penny and go up to $100, though the high-limit area is modest compared to what you'd find at Rivers in Des Plaines. The Bally's brand means you'll see their proprietary titles mixed in with IGT and Aristocrat games.

Table games are where the temp casino shows its constraints. Fifty tables isn't nothing, but peak hours see waits. Craps is popular here—there are usually two tables running, with decent odds compared to some Indiana spots. Blackjack rules are standard: 3:2 payouts on most tables, though you'll want to verify before sitting down at the electronic versions. Roulette uses double-zero wheels, which is the American standard but worse for your odds than European single-zero.

Parking, Access, and Logistics

Self-parking at Medinah Temple is in a structure connected to the building, and it's paid—don't expect the free garages you get at suburban casinos. Valet is available, and during weekends, it's probably worth the extra cost if you don't want to circle the neighborhood. The Chicago Avenue brown line stop is a five-minute walk, which makes this one of the few casinos in America accessible by rapid transit.

Hours are technically 8 AM to 4 AM, though that's subject to change as they settle into operations. Unlike the Indiana casinos, which run 24/7, Bally's temp location has to close for a few hours each day—a holdover from city negotiations. The permanent location will reportedly operate continuously, but don't hold your breath; that's years away.

Bally's Rewards and Player Perks

The Bally's Rewards program ties into their national network, which is useful if you gamble in other markets like Atlantic City or Las Vegas. Points earned in Chicago work elsewhere, and tier status carries over. New player sign-ups often come with promotional play—usually $20 to $50 in free slot credits, though these offers fluctuate based on marketing budgets and upcoming events.

Comps work the traditional way: play slots or tables, get rated, earn points toward food and future play. Because this is a temporary location, the dining options are limited to a single restaurant and a quick-bite counter, so comp dollars are less useful than at a resort with five restaurants. Once the permanent site opens, expect a full loyalty ecosystem with hotel stays, show tickets, and dining across multiple venues.

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