Chicago Opens First Legal Casino

It has been a long journey, in fact some thirty years but Chicago residents finally got to gamble legally in its first casino as Bally’s opened the temporary location at the former Medinah Temple in the River North area on Saturday at 8am local time.

Former Mayor Richard Daley first said a casino would be developed in the city in the 90’s but it has taken till now for locals to see the reality and as the opening drew near a long queue of gamblers waited for the official opening.

The current location will last for three years as Bally’s develop the permanent location at site of the Chicago Tribune printing plant in River West.

It is hoped by local government sources that the temporary location will generate some $50 million in taxes while operational which will go towards boosting pensions for firefighters and police.

The current casino has 56 gaming tables and some 800 plus gaming machines.