Bally’s Signs Deal With Organized Labor To Build Chicago Casino

The construction of the largest casino in Illinois will greatly rely on organized labor.

Today, Bally’s announced that they are constructing a $1.7 billion destination casino in Chicago.

The casino company disclosed in a press release that it has entered into a Multi-Project Labor Agreement with the Chicago & Cook County Building & Construction Trades Council and the AFL-CIO Building and Construction Trades Department.

“Bally’s chairman, Soo Kim, has expressed the company’s belief in mirroring the community it serves. He stated that the current Project Labor Agreement (PLA) is a testament to their commitment towards recognizing the critical role organized labor has had in shaping the magnificent city of Chicago. Kim further noted that this is the initial phase of a project that will be developed by and for Chicago, aiding the city in fulfilling its obligations towards police and fire pensions.”

We are dedicated to inclusivity and, through our partnerships with the CCBT, Chicago Federation of Labor, and Hire360, we will ensure that our workforce mirrors the city’s rich diversity.

Labor groups applaud the move

The President of the Chicago & Cook County Building & Construction Trades Council, Michael Macellaio, expressed his organization’s pride in standing with Bally’s Chicago during the historic construction of the city’s first and only casino. He emphasized that Bally’s acknowledges the significance of providing good-paying jobs in Chicago and respecting the dignity of its hard-working residents.

Bob Reiter, the president of the Chicago Federation of Labor, expressed his gratitude towards Bally’s high standards of employment. He stated that their mission includes boosting the involvement of underrepresented groups, particularly encouraging the youth to view the trades as a valuable and motivating career option. He commended Bally’s for their serious commitment to this cause.

Deal to buy the land expected any day now

We reported last week that Bally’s is set to finalize the acquisition of the Freedom Center printing plant in River West soon. The new casino will be located on the 30-acre site. The deal must be concluded by Oct. 25.

The printing plant can be found at the intersection of Chicago Avenue and Halsted Street. This location places the casino within a walking distance to the popular sites on Michigan Avenue.

Additionally, the casino will highlight “The Best of Chicago” encompassing arts and culture, food and sports, alongside carefully selected dining and entertainment experiences. Furthermore, it will include:

• 3,400 slots
• 173 table games
• 10 dining and drinking establishments
• A tower hotel that can accommodate up to 500 rooms and features a rooftop bar.
• An open-air concert venue with a capacity for 1,000 guests.
• also a 3,000-seat indoor entertainment center that spans 70,000 square feet.
• and a green space outdoors.

Temporary casino expected in June of 2023

Bally’s Chicago will not be ready until at least 2026, but in the meantime, Bally’s will open a temporary casino in the century-old Medinah Temple. This temporary facility is scheduled to open by June 2023 while the main casino is under construction.