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Tag: bally’s

  • New Bally’s Las Vegas Casino? Maybe? • This Week in Gambling

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    Bally’s Las Vegas has finalized a multiphase construction timeline for its new resort on the Las Vegas Strip, with development scheduled to begin in the first half of 2026. The project will occupy the 35-acre site previously home to the Tropicana Las Vegas, which was demolished in late 2024. According to documents submitted to Clark County, the development will be integrated with a new 33,000-seat stadium for the Athletics Major League Baseball franchise.

    The master plan for Bally’s Las Vegas includes two hotel towers with a combined 3,000 guest rooms, a casino floor spanning 100,000 square feet, and a 2,500-seat theater. A significant portion of the site will be dedicated to a 500,000-square-foot retail and entertainment district designed to surround the stadium. However, Bally’s Chairman Soo Kim stated that the company intends to focus on retail and dining elements… rather than the casino… during the initial phases to capitalize on the foot traffic expected when the ballpark opens in 2028.

    Construction is expected to proceed in four distinct stages. The first phase, slated to start in April 2026, involves building shared infrastructure such as a central utility plant, parking facilities, and initial retail spaces. This phase is timed to conclude alongside the stadium’s completion. Subsequent phases will see the addition of the primary hotel tower… and then the casino… followed by the entertainment venue and a second hotel tower. Total project costs are estimated at 1.19 billion dollars, with a final completion date projected for late 2030.

    Bally’s Las Vegas will operate on land owned by Gaming and Leisure Properties, which has committed 175 million dollars toward site improvements. The resort is being designed by Marnell Architecture, with real estate firm JLL managing the selection of dining and retail tenants. The company has emphasized a conservative approach to the development, noting that construction speed will depend on market demand. This project marks the return of the Bally’s name to the Strip after the previous Bally’s resort was rebranded as Horseshoe Las Vegas in 2022. By aligning the resort with professional sports, the developer aims to attract a mix of international tourists and regional baseball fans to the southern end of the Las Vegas Strip.

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    This Week in Gambling

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  • Bally’s Dover Casino Sees Man Arrested on Drug and Human Trafficking Suspicions

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    On January 16, the Dover Police Department arrested Antwan Freeman, 44, of Dover, on drug and human trafficking charges at the Bally’s Dover Casino Resort in Delaware after responding to calls of a physical altercation.

    Police Arrest Suspect at a Bally’s Dover Casino Hotel Room

    Police said Freeman was taken into custody without incident, but further investigation revealed disturbing details of the suspects’ alleged crimes. According to the police, Freeman was trafficking a woman who was present in the room at the time of the arrest.

    In addition to that, police said they had discovered 10.1 grams of crack cocaine, 3.63 grams of heroin/fentanyl, 57.6 grams of PCP, 19 doses of alprazolam, crack cocaine manufacturing equipment, and $465 in suspected drug proceeds.

    He was charged with possession with intent to deliver various illegal substances, trafficking an individual, and human trafficking involving sexual servitude. The last charge applies when a person is forced, defrauded, or coerced into engaging in commercial sex acts.

    Police said Freeman was committed to Sussex Correctional Institution after bail was set at $130,200, which was to be paid in cash.

    Bally’s Dover Casino Resort, the scene of the arrest, is a hotel, casino, and racetrack complex located in Dover, Delaware. The property features a 0.625-mile harness racing track encircled by the 1-mile concrete Dover Motor Speedway, which hosts NASCAR racing events. Freeman was arrested in one of the 500 rooms of the venue. 

    It additionally includes more than 2,700 slot machines, 40 table games, and the Rollins Center, which is an 18,000-square-foot multipurpose ballroom used for business conferences, conventions, etc. The complex is owned by Gaming and Leisure Properties and operated by Bally’s Corporation, while the motor racing circuit is owned by Speedway Motorsports. 

    Speaking of Bally’s operations, the company recently revealed details about its Las Vegas project, which will be a large multi-use property featuring a casino, hotel, theater, shopping space, and dining area.

    Delaware Requires Casinos to Raise Awareness About Human Trafficking

    But back to Freeman’s case, the human trafficking charges might be the biggest problem he will face. He is potentially looking at decades in prison if convicted on all charges. In Delaware, human trafficking for commercial sex is classified as a Class C felony, or a Class B felony if the victim is a minor.

    State law also mandates that Delaware’s three casinos, including Bally’s, display informational signs to raise awareness about human trafficking. According to the state’s law, Casinos are required to prominently display public awareness signs in all public restrooms, staff breakrooms, and lobbies, ensuring they are clearly visible to everyone to raise awareness on the issue.

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    Stefan Velikov

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  • Illinois Casino Revenue Reaches a Record $1.9 Billion in 2025

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    Posted on: January 12, 2026, 09:38h. 

    Last updated on: January 12, 2026, 10:30h.

    • Illinois casino revenue reached $1.9 billion in 2025
    • 2025 was a record year for Illinois casinos
    • Concerns about VGTs in Chicago overshadow Bally’s $1.7 billion investment

    Gamblers in Illinois lost more money than ever before in 2025 at the state’s 17 physical casinos.

    Illinois casino revenue Rivers Des Plaines
    Rivers Casino Des Plaines again led the Illinois casino market in annual gaming revenue in 2025. The state’s 17 casinos won more than $1.9 billion on their physical slot machines and table games. (Image: Shutterstock)

    The Illinois Gaming Board reports that 2025 gross gaming revenue (GGR), or the amount of money the casinos kept after paying out winnings, totaled $1,943,722,561.89. The bulk of the winnings, about $1.49 billion, came on slot machines. Table games accounted for the remaining $457.8 million.

    The more than $1.9 billion in casino revenue represented a 15% increase from 2024, when GGR totaled approximately $1.7 billion. The 2025 mark represents a 29% jump from 2023 win of $1.5 billion, and a nearly 44% surge from 2019 prepandemic revenue of $1.35 billion.

    Rivers Casino Des Plaines remained the top casino in Illinois. The casino jointly owned by Churchill Downs and Chicago-based Rush Street Gaming reported GGR of $503 million for a 26% state market share.

    Wind Creek Chicago Southland, which opened in November 2024, was next at $198 million.

    State, Chicago Gaming Expansion

    2025 marked the first full year for Wind Creek Chicago Southland, a $529 million facility that was authorized through Illinois’ 2019 gaming expansion package. The bill, part of Gov. JB Pritzker’s (D) “Rebuild Illinois” initiative, authorized five casinos in the Chicago suburbs and an integrated resort casino destination in downtown Chicago.

    Last year was also the first full year for Hard Rock Casino Rockford. Hard Rock generated 2025 GGR of $146.2 million to place third.

    Caesars’ Grand Victoria Casino in Elgin was fourth at $142.2 million, and the Bally’s Chicago temporary casino at the Medinah Temple, also authorized through the 2019 gaming bill, was fifth with GGR of $124.7 million.

    Bally’s continues to make headway on its $1.7 billion permanent casino in Chicago’s River West neighborhood. Bally’s officials have an ambitious plan to open the resort by the end of the year.

    The casino company continues to oppose efforts to allow slot-like video gaming terminals (VGTs) to come to the city proper. Chicago aldermen are pursuing VGTs as a much-needed revenue source, though Mayor Brandon Johnson (D) called the $16.6 billion budget passed by the City Council “morally bankrupt” because of relying on VGT gaming, among other things.

    Through November, the most recently reported month, statewide VGT revenue in 2025 totaled more than $2.91 billion. In Aurora, one of the largest municipalities in the Chicago region with a population of about 200K people, 2025 VGT revenue in the city totaled more than $14.6 million.

    Sports Concerns

    While Illinois casino revenue continues to grow, there are concerns regarding the future of the state’s sports betting industry. As Casino.org’s Todd Shriber reported in November, the state’s recently implemented per-bet surcharge has led to fewer overall sports bets.

    Illinois now imposes a 25-cent per-bet charge on a sportsbook’s first 20 million bets. The surcharge jumps to 50 cents after the operator exceeds 20 million bets in a year.

    The Sports Betting Alliance, a coalition fighting for the expansion of sports gambling and favorable regulations, claims the per-bet charge led to five million fewer bets made in September 2025 than were placed in September 2024.

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    Devin O’Connor

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  • Chicago Video Gaming Terminals Could Violate Bally’s Contract

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    Posted on: September 17, 2025, 01:50h. 

    Last updated on: September 17, 2025, 01:58h.

    • Chicago is considering allowing slot-like video gaming terminals
    • VGTs could threaten the city’s casino contract with Bally’s
    • Chicago is facing a $1.5 billion budget deficit

    Slot-like video gaming terminals (VGTs) are a step closer to being authorized in Chicago.

    Bally's Chicago VGT video gaming terminals
    The entrance to the temporary Bally’s Chicago inside the Medinah Temple is seen. Chicago continues to mull the legalization of slot-like video gaming terminals, but VGTs could violate Bally’s agreement with the City of Chicago. (Image: X)

    On Tuesday, the City of Chicago Committee on License and Consumer Protection voted 8-6 in favor of an ordinance that would allow certain businesses to pursue VGTs. Illinois’ VGT law allows businesses holding a valid liquor license to house between six and 10 gaming machines.

    Small businesses can have up to six VGTs, while truck stops can have 10. All businesses must be at least 1,000 feet from a casino or racetrack.

    Chicago has long banned VGTs, but with the Windy City continuing to face severe fiscal issues, including a budget deficit of $1.15 billion, some city lawmakers are motioning to legalize the gaming terminals.

    Are we to just sit back and look down the barrel of a $1.5 billion deficit with nothing in sight, or are we to look for additional revenues that don’t affect everyone like property taxes, people driving down the street with tickets, being hit every other day?” asked Alderman Anthony Beale, who represents the 9th Ward. The Chicago Sun-Times first reported Ward’s comments.

    “Are we going to turn a blind eye on $60 million to $100 million? Or are we going to be creative to do something a little different, something the city has never done before?” Beale questioned.

    Mayor Opposition

    A study commissioned by the city forecast that Chicago could receive more than $67.2 million annually from the legalization of VGTs. Illinois levies a 35% tax on VGT gross gaming revenue, with about one-sixth, or 5.8%, returned to the machine’s local government.

    The VGT forecast doesn’t take into account any possible net loss in revenue to the city from other sources, mainly the Bally’s Casino. The temporary casino is operating at the Medinah Temple while the permanent $2 billion resort is being built at the former Freedom Center newspaper publishing plant.

    Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, who was previously open to VGTs but now opposes their authorization, says the city doesn’t have a spending problem, though spending continues to increase with pension funding problems.

    “We do not have a spending problem in Chicago. We have a revenue challenge in Chicago,” Johnson said this week.

    Bally’s Contract 

    Bally’s was deemed the winner of Chicago’s downtown casino bidding in May 2022. The City Council picked Bally’s over pitches from Chicago-based Rush Street Gaming and Hard Rock International.

    There are legal concerns that if Chicago authorizes VGTs, the city’s Host Community Agreement with Bally’s could be violated. The terms include assurances that the city won’t allow a second casino to open and won’t authorize any other “mode of lawful gaming” other than what is currently allowed.

    Carl Gutierrez, vice president of government relations for the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, said VGTs would be a “clear violation” of the Bally’s contract and would “send a message” that the City of Chicago “is not a reliable partner.”

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    Devin O’Connor

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  • Bally’s Atlantic City Unprofitable Through First Half of 2025

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    Posted on: August 23, 2025, 08:26h. 

    Last updated on: August 23, 2025, 08:26h.

    • Bally’s Atlantic City has not been profitable in 2025
    • Bally’s is the only casino in AC losing money this year
    • Q3, however, has been strong for the New Jersey casino town

    The future of Bally’s Atlantic City remains murky after the Boardwalk casino resort revealed it lost money running the place through the first six months of 2025.

    Bally's Atlantic City casino profits revenue
    The Atlantic City Boardwalk entrance to Bally’s. The casino resort wasn’t profitable during the first six months of 2025. (Image: Shutterstock)

    On Friday, the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) posted second-quarter and half-year net revenue and gross operating profits for the nine casinos in Atlantic City. While all were profitable during the April through June period, most casinos showed their profit margins shrinking year-over-year.

    Bally’s profit of just $2.3 million represented a 14.7% drop from Q2 2024, though the period was a substantial improvement on Q1.

    For the year, Bally’s remains in the red, with an operating loss of $896,000 for the six months. Bally’s gross operating profit, which the DGE says is a “widely accepted measure of profitability in the Atlantic City gaming industry,” has plummeted 439%.

    Gross operating profits are before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, affiliate charges, and other miscellaneous items. 

    Bally's Atlantic City casino profits revenue
    (Image: NJ DGE)

    Bally’s Struggles

    The New Jersey DGE reports additionally show that Bally’s is accommodating far fewer guests and getting far less money per room.

    In 2024, Bally’s 1,121 guestrooms were occupied 62% of the time on an average nightly rate of $154. Through six months of 2025, those same guestrooms were occupied just 55% of the time at an average rate of $142.

    Bally’s net revenue in 2025 through six months, inclusive of gaming, rooms, food and beverage, totaled $90.6 million. That’s down 7.7% from a year ago. By comparison, market leader Borgata reported net revenue of $385.1 million. Hard Rock was at $284.7 million, and Ocean was at $243.1 million.

    With additional competition soon coming by way of downstate New York, Bally’s needs a quick turnaround. It’s a bet few would likely want to make on the aged, tired property.

    Positive Elsewhere 

    While Q2 showed tightening profit lines for most of the casinos down the shore, the outliers being Borgata with a profit increase of 16% and Ocean Casino with a profit surge of 67.9%, the report represents the springtime period before Atlantic City experienced a summer comeback.

    Gaming revenue this summer has soared, with brick-and-mortar casinos reporting year-over-year gains in May, June, and July.

    Even before the summer surge, eight of the nine properties were profitable, with the eight managing to bridge the Bally’s gap to report a 1% industrywide profit gain on the prior year’s six months. The casinos have gotten creative in limiting overhead and increasing margins, as revenue during the first half was flat.

    All operators were profitable, despite continuing pressure from higher costs for the goods and services they purchase,” said James Plousis, chair of the New Jersey Casino Control Commission.

    Plousis said the $179.9 million Q2 profit was the second-best second quarter in four years.

    “Quarterly results from the spring season, coupled with July’s strong monthly figures released last week, reveal that Atlantic City has been competing well for regional gaming and leisure tourists. The casino hotels have raised the bar for positive visitor experiences, with more than $1.1 billion reinvested over the past four years to elevate the properties with first-class gaming, leisure, dining, and entertainment,” Plousis added.

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    Devin O’Connor

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  • New Bally’s Las Vegas and Baseball Stadium • This Week in Gambling

    New Bally’s Las Vegas and Baseball Stadium • This Week in Gambling

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    The Tropicana implosion finally happened. Now, attention has turned to the building of the new Bally’s Las Vegas and the baseball stadium it will share a lot with. Bally’s just revealed their ‘master plans’ for the property which show three hotel towers being built at the same time as the new stadium. And while the name of the new resort has not been officially announced, what else could it be but Bally’s?

    Let’s remember that way it was back in October of 2020 Caesars Entertainment sold the Bally’s name to Bally Corp for $20 million. This was before anyone knew of Caesars plans to rebrand the property to the Horseshoe, and well before there was any talk of the Tropicana being leveled for a new stadium, yet here we are just four years later. So why would they shell out that sort of money if they did not plan to use the name?

    The centerpiece of new Bally’s Las Vegas will be the baseball stadium surrounded by luxury hotels and a large casino. Bally’s has also proposed a striking 250-foot video tower, enhancing the high-tech appeal of the development. Bally’s intends to execute the project in three phases, starting with a casino and a hotel, both scheduled to open with the stadium in 2028. The initial phase includes a hotel tower, casino, sportsbook, restaurants, pools, and a parking garage, with 2,500 of the planned 4,590 parking spaces reserved for stadium guests.

    A spokesperson for the company stated that the design is still evolving as the project moves forward, and that subsequent phases will introduce additional hotel towers, retail spaces, convention areas, and various amenities. The second phase will add another hotel tower, retail outlets, and an expanded pool deck, while the third phase will feature yet another tower, increasing the total number of rooms across the entire project to 3,000.

    Company Chairman Soo Kim acknowledged that Phase 1 of the new Bally’s Las Vegas will include the casino and hotel towers, but more specific plans for guest amenities and additional rooms are still being finalized. “I think we’re working pretty hard to come up with a plan that will allow us to at least build Phase 1 and open at the same time as the ballpark,” he told a local newspaper. Construction is set to begin early next year.

     

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  • Bally’s Evansville Loses $212,000 to Phishing

    Bally’s Evansville Loses $212,000 to Phishing

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    A few months after the devastating cyberattacks on MGM and Caesars, Bally’s property in Evansville, Indiana, has become the victim of a phishing scam. As a result, the casino hotel has lost more than $212,000.

    As reported by the Evansville Police Department, the Bally’s venue was commissioning a construction firm for work on its property. At one point, however, a caller contacted the casino hotel’s management, claiming that the firm had had to change emails. In addition, the person provided Bally’s with a bank account and routing number for payment for the construction work.

    Not suspecting the scam, Bally’s officials did as they were told and ended up paying $212,671 to the scammer. The casino operator immediately contacted the police, prompting an investigation.

    While the phishing scam is not exactly a cyberattack, it is part of a larger trend that has seen fraudsters target major commercial casino companies. As mentioned, some of the biggest casino operators in the United States suffered serious security breaches earlier this year, jeopardizing their businesses and inducing millions in losses.

    Not the First Time Bally’s Evansville Has Dealt with Crime and Fraudsters

    Bally’s Evansville is a property with 45,000 square feet of gaming space. Boasting some 950 slots and 30 electronic and live dealer gaming tables, the venue offers a variety of games to its patrons. In addition to that, sports fans can place wagers at the property’s William Hill-branded sportsbook.

    Unfortunately, the phishing attempt is not the first time Bally’s Evansville has had to deal with cases of fraud and crime. A month ago, a suspect in auto theft case was arrested at the property.

    Again in November, the police arrested another Bally’s Evansville patron for leaving their child unattended while going to gamble. This reflects an unfortunate trend across the US that has seen irresponsible parents ignore their children while visiting casinos. In November alone, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, for example banned four casino patrons because of such violations.

    In March, Bally’s Evansville had to fire a former pit supervisor who was charged with running an illegal poker room called Ed’s Poker Club. The man had been organizing illegal poker games for years, greatly intensifying his efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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    Fiona Simmons

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  • Indiana: Suspect of Auto Theft Arrested at Bally’s Evansville

    Indiana: Suspect of Auto Theft Arrested at Bally’s Evansville

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    Financial crimes, burglaries, robberies and other criminal activities are much easier to uncover nowadays thanks to technological innovations, proactive monitoring and CCTV. Casino operators across the globe continue to invest heavily in technology to protect their online and retail operations, battling against a wide range of criminal activities, including money laundering, fraud and robberies, among others.

    Earlier this week, one casino patron who visited Bally’s Evansville in Indiana, and was suspected of auto theft, was arrested, a report released by 44 News reveals. On Wednesday morning, casino security contacted law enforcement to notify them about the presence of an individual who was suspected to be involved in an auto theft.

    Police units were dispatched to the Evansville casino where they identified the suspect as a 46-year-old with the initials K.S.N. The same person was suspected of a theft dating back to earlier this week, the new report reveals. It is unclear whether he was identified by CCTV footage or witnesses who were able to recognize him.

    Police Officers Find Drugs, Book the Suspect in Jail

    The 46-year-old suspected of the car theft agreed to a search. He was detained and police uncovered drugs in his possession. K.S.N. reportedly had a glass pipe, as well as fentanyl and meth. The person was subsequently arrested and booked in the Vanderburgh County Jail. He is reportedly facing charges related to the car theft along with drug-related charges. It is yet to be confirmed what penalty he may face if he is found guilty.

    In other crime-related news, a 35-year-old man who drove his car through the fence of a solar facility that provided power to MGM Resorts recently pleaded guilty. The person caused damage to the Mega Solar Array facility located 25 miles outside Las Vegas by ramming through the fence. He then allegedly set his car on fire and fled the crime scene.

    The person allegedly responsible for the damage to the solar facility entered into a guilty plea under the stipulation that he is mentally ill, KLAS reported. As a result, he accepted guilt for second-degree arson and malicious destruction of property.

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    Jerome García

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