Bally's Casino in Downtown Chicago

mrbowling300

mrbowling300

EOG Dedicated
Looks like casino gambling will be arriving in downtown Chicago later this summer for the first time.

Bally's is building a new $1.7 billion complex in River West (Chicago Ave and Halstead Street).

https://casinos.ballys.com/chicago/

https://abc7chicago.com/chicago-casino-ballys-bally-renderings/13237675/

It will take about 3-4 years to build the complex.

Meanwhile, they are setting up shop in a temporary location in River North on Wabash between Ohio and Ontario at the old Medinah Temple, which happens to be only 1 block away from where my condo (2nd home) is in Chicago. The temporary casino will house 750 slot machines, 75 tables, and a high roller floor. They say this should be operational later this summer.

https://abc7chicago.com/chicago-casino-ballys-bally-medinah-temple/13385174/

I'm only concerned about increased traffic, crowding and of course the criminal element around there, as it is very close to me.
 
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mrbowling300

mrbowling300

EOG Dedicated
Heim said:
Sportsbook?
Click to expand...

Nothing I've seen indicates a sportsbook at the temporary location. I'm thinking they are limited to only so much space at this temporary site that they will not have one. However, as sports betting is legalized in Illinois, I imagine they will have kiosks in the temporary casino. I imagine when the permanent one is built, they will have a physical sportsbook.
 
mrbowling300

mrbowling300

EOG Dedicated
I just walked through the Ballys casino for the first time this afternoon.

Opening day was Saturday, Sept 8, and is the first and only casino within the city limits of Chicago.

The building is located on Wabash between Ontario and Ohio in the former Medinah Temple.

Three floors of gaming space, non-smoking, place smells brand new. Not many people in there at the noon hour.

Blackjack is 3:2, $25 table minimums, for the record, roulette still has two green spots.

Sportsbook is opening in about 3 weeks.

Walk Through Video #1

Walk Through Video #2

Ballys Casino Building in Chicago

Sportsbook Window

Three Levels of the Chicago Casino
 
V

Valuist

EOG Master
I like the idea of the Tri State Triangle (I'm patenting it): Rivers, Points Bet at the Prospect Heights OTB, then Circa up in Waukegan.
 
mr merlin

mr merlin

EOG Master
mrbowling300 said:
I just walked through the Ballys casino for the first time this afternoon.

Opening day was Saturday, Sept 8, and is the first and only casino within the city limits of Chicago.

The building is located on Wabash between Ontario and Ohio in the former Medinah Temple.

Three floors of gaming space, non-smoking, place smells brand new. Not many people in there at the noon hour.

Blackjack is 3:2, $25 table minimums, for the record, roulette still has two green spots.

Sportsbook is opening in about 3 weeks.

Walk Through Video #1

Walk Through Video #2

Ballys Casino Building in Chicago

Sportsbook Window

Three Levels of the Chicago Casino
Click to expand...
Is it crawling with negros? I cant see the videos.
 
mrbowling300

mrbowling300

EOG Dedicated
The casino is going on it's third full month. From what I understand, the revenues were down 17% in the 2nd month vs the first month.

I've walked through several times, and have never seen it busy. Per news reports, the permanent casino may never be built. Ballys is struggling financially (they are giving up their stations which broadcasts Detroit sports, and other locations as well), and it sure sounds like the Medina Temple location will become permanent. Currently, they are closed from 4am to 8am, but it sounds like they will soon be a 24/7 operation.

They have 6 video poker machines on the main flow, row of 3, back to back, like 6 on a die. It is interesting to note, the 4 on the corners are 7/5 for Jacks/better and the two in the middle are 8/5.

They have a sportsbook area, but nothing had changed with it in the past month since I was last there. There's a sign saying "coming soon, sportsbook".

Here is an article that speaks about their plans further:

https://chicago.suntimes.com/fran-s...ling-permanent-site-water-tower-place-hopkins
 
FairWarning

FairWarning

Bells Beer Connoisseur
Who wants to drive and park in downtown Chicago these days? The parking is over $60/day, Bally’s reimburses $20 to the workers. Who wants to take public trans? Personally I think the casino market is flooded.
 
mrbowling300

mrbowling300

EOG Dedicated
Valuist said:
Exactly. Just go to Rivers or the new Circa.
Click to expand...

Speaking of Circa, their app is functional in Illinois now. More difficult to get money in there than the others. All the others use venmo/paypal as an option. With Circa you have to register your debit card, etc. Seems much more involved, so I've only used it for line shopping. If I did see something I liked, only then I would go through the motions.
 
blueline

blueline

EOG Master
I very rarely go to any Chicago area casino.....I'm guessing the target market for Ballys is tourist/business travel person with some night out on the town from suburbia mixed in.

Being from suburbia, no chance I go to Ballys just for a night out at a casino.

The "newness" has worn off....not even open 24 hours or in the permanent facility yet.

Just checked parking $39 for 24 hours......no chance I would pay that.
 
mrbowling300

mrbowling300

EOG Dedicated
blueline said:
I very rarely go to any Chicago area casino.....I'm guessing the target market for Ballys is tourist/business travel person with some night out on the town from suburbia mixed in.

Being from suburbia, no chance I go to Ballys just for a night out at a casino.

The "newness" has worn off....not even open 24 hours or in the permanent facility yet.

Just checked parking $39 for 24 hours......no chance I would pay that.
Click to expand...

I doubt anyone would want to pay for parking while gambling.

They spoke about restaurants there as well. As far as I could see, there is only two, one is a snack bar type of a place and upstairs is a sit down place. The upstairs is empty. You literally have 250+ restaurants of all types in a 2 mile radius of the casino, the choices for dinner are plentiful.
 
FairWarning

FairWarning

Bells Beer Connoisseur
Valuist said:
Exactly. Just go to Rivers or the new Circa.
Click to expand...
Four Winds has felt a little of the overexpansion also. But they have a shiny new pot shop,on the Mi/IND state line, and building another. Speaking of oversupply, New Buffalo township has granted 28 licenses for dispensaries, so smoke up.
 
mrbowling300

mrbowling300

EOG Dedicated
FairWarning said:
Four Winds has felt a little of the overexpansion also. But they have a shiny new pot shop,on the Mi/IND state line, and building another. Speaking of oversupply, New Buffalo township has granted 28 licenses for dispensaries, so smoke up.
Click to expand...
People getting into the dispensary business are having trouble making money......supply and demand....way too much supply now. Especially in the Detroit Metro area.
 
V

Valuist

EOG Master
mrbowling300 said:
Speaking of Circa, their app is functional in Illinois now. More difficult to get money in there than the others. All the others use venmo/paypal as an option. With Circa you have to register your debit card, etc. Seems much more involved, so I've only used it for line shopping. If I did see something I liked, only then I would go through the motions.
Click to expand...

I opened my Circa account with cash, but I was on site. Unfortunately I can only use it when in Illinois.
 
blueline

blueline

EOG Master
Circa director of operations Jeffrey Benson said on social media: “No app promos or bonuses planned – we’re more of a real sportsbook. Focus is attractive odds, high limits and exceptional customer service.”
 
M

MrTop

EOG Master
blueline said:
Circa director of operations Jeffrey Benson said on social media: “No app promos or bonuses planned – we’re more of a real sportsbook. Focus is attractive odds, high limits and exceptional customer service.”
Click to expand...



this is one good book. I hope they come to the northeast
 
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