UMVA has learned that temporary casinos in Chicago and Waukegan have been given a lifeline, with Illinois regulators approving extensions that will allow them to remain open longer while permanent resorts are built and a tribal-backed legal challenge tied to the Waukegan license remains unresolved.
The decision is a major relief to gaming operators and enthusiasts alike, as it keeps the gaming activity running at both locations, providing a vital source of entertainment and revenue for the local communities. The extensions are tied to provisions contained in the state’s Revenue Omnibus Bill, which is still awaiting the governor’s signature.
According to information obtained by UMVA, Bally’s Chicago Operating Company, LLC, doing business as Bally’s Chicago, has been granted a 12-month extension, allowing it to continue operating its temporary casino from September 6, 2026, through September 9, 2027. This move comes as Bally’s continues to construct its permanent riverfront casino and entertainment complex, a $1.7 billion development that is expected to become the city’s first permanent casino destination.
In Waukegan, FHR-Illinois LLC, doing business as American Place, has received approval for an additional 18 months of temporary operations, running from August 18, 2027, through February 17, 2029. Despite a long-running casino licensing process and a lawsuit involving the Forest County Potawatomi Community, development plans for the permanent American Place casino have continued to move ahead.
The Illinois Gaming Board is also taking steps to strengthen responsible gambling protections, with Administrator Marcus D. Fruchter revealing that the agency is working with researchers and industry experts to examine possible upgrades to the state’s voluntary Self-Exclusion Program. The goal is to expand coverage and address existing gaps through research-driven and data-informed changes.
The board has also made several licensing decisions, approving renewals and occupational licenses across casino gaming, video gaming, and sports wagering, while denying one casino occupational license application and one video gaming location application. With 17 casinos, 13 active and approved sportsbooks, and nearly 9,000 licensed video gaming establishments currently operating in Illinois, the state’s gaming industry continues to thrive.
