It’s about to be “game on” for Chicago’s temporary casino.
Wednesday practice games begin at the former Medinah Temple. The building is on Wabash Avenue between Ohio and Ontario streets.
hicago’s first casino could be open as soon as this weekend if regulators give the green light following practice sessions starting Wednesday.
Practice gaming sessions are taking place Wednesday and Thursday, where the Illinois Gaming Board will determine if the casino is ready to open.
A Bally’s executive said they are ready to welcome the public, but it’s up to the Illinois Gaming Board.
“We will have people coming in every hour, gambling, trying the facilities out, looking at our services,” Ameet Patel, the senior vice president and regional general manager for Bally’s Corporation, said. “Accordingly, the IGB will evaluate how we did. It is their call. We respect their call. They have been fantastic to work with. They have been tough on us. We want to show them that we are 110 percent ready to open this operation.”
The 111-year-old temple is now home to 750 slot machines and 50 table games, all while Bally builds its permanent $1.7 billion casino at the Chicago Tribune Freedom Center printing plant side in River West, which could take up to three years.
