Bally’s Corp. has marked a major construction milestone at its planned Chicago riverfront casino, celebrating the topping off of the $1.7 billion project. The ceremony featured the traditional signing, lifting, and placement of the final structural beam, signaling that the building has reached its full height and that the development is progressing into its next phase.
The permanent casino complex is rising on a 30-acre site formerly occupied by the Chicago Tribune Freedom Center, which is being transformed into a new riverfront destination focused on gaming and entertainment. The project is located at 560 W. Grand Ave. and is designed to anchor a larger redevelopment of the property with a mix of hospitality and entertainment offerings.
Once complete, Bally’s Chicago is expected to become the largest casino in Illinois, according to the company. The gaming floor program calls for 3,400 slot machines and 173 table games, positioning the property as a flagship venue in the state’s gaming sector. In addition to the casino floor, the development will include 10 food and beverage outlets delivered in partnership with Levy Hospitality, bringing a range of dining and bar concepts to the riverfront site.
The project also incorporates a significant hospitality component. Plans call for a 500-room hotel tower that will sit alongside the casino, providing on-site accommodations for visitors and convention guests. The hotel tower will feature a rooftop bar, adding another entertainment and social venue to the overall program and leveraging views of the surrounding riverfront and cityscape.
Entertainment uses extend beyond the gaming and hotel elements. Bally’s Chicago is set to include a 3,000-seat entertainment theater and event center, intended to host performances and other large-scale gatherings. Together, the casino, hotel, dining venues, and theater are planned to function as an integrated entertainment complex within the broader 30-acre redevelopment.
In a statement on the milestone, Bally’s Executive Chairman Soo Kim credited the role of union trades and project partners in advancing the construction timeline. He described the topping off as a significant step for Bally’s Chicago and emphasized the company’s intention to deliver what it characterizes as a one-of-a-kind destination for city residents and visitors. The project continues to move forward following this structural benchmark as work transitions from vertical construction toward enclosure and interior build-out.
