Bally's Corporation has made a $4 million payment to the city of Chicago as part of its Host Community Agreement. This payment comes despite Bally's continued opposition to the city's initiative to place video gaming terminals (VGTs) beyond its $1.7 billion River West casino.
On September 9, Bally's issued two payments of $2 million each as part of its required annual community impact payment, stipulated in the agreement made with the city in 2022. Previously, Bally's had hinted at withholding the payments due to ongoing disputes regarding these VGT installations.
This payment coincides with Bally's ongoing conflict with city officials over the authorization of VGTs at various establishments, including bars, restaurants, and convenience stores. The city's budget for fiscal year 2026 projects an income of $6.8 million from these gaming machines.
Additionally, it was disclosed during a hearing that Bally's has been in discussions with Rick Heidner from Gold Rush Gaming regarding a potential acquisition or partnership involving the VGTs, but no agreement has been finalized yet.
