Casino operator Bally’s Chicago announced more than 700 vacant job positions for its temporary casino at Medinah Temple scheduled to open in July 2023 upon the receipt of the Illinois Gaming Board’s approval. As the Chicago Tribune reports, the casino is hiring a range of job profiles listed on the company’s website.

Pending License:

Ameet Patel, regional general manager of Bally’s, reportedly stated: “We are thrilled to announce Bally’s Chicago Casino has posted all positions required to open and operate our Medinah Temple location.”  The launch of the Medinah Temple has initially been scheduled for June and then for July, but the milestone steel seems tight as the license for the temporary casino is still pending.

The temporary Medinah Temple facility represents a part of the Bally’s  project won last year to build a $1.74 billion Chicago casino in the River West area. The company received all necessary approvals for the development of an entertainment complex with features such as a 500-room hotel, a 3,000-seat event center, 4,000 gaming positions, and an exhibition hall.

Simultaneous Project Launch:

According to Chicago Tribune, Bally’s started the redevelopment of the River West location in February to open the permanent land-based casino by 2026. Meanwhile, Bally’s has been renovating the landmark Medinah Temple in the River North area to be used as a temporary casino by the time the permanent River West facility has been built. The casino will have more than 800 gaming positions at Medinah, with slots and table games, three restaurants, and a bar available to customers over the next three years.

Chicago Tribune also reports that Bally’s received the supplier license approval from Gaming Board for the temporary casino also in February. With regulatory approvals for the construction of the permanent casino in the River West area and the temporary casino in the River North zone, the company was eligible to start both developments. But it still reportedly needs to verify preliminary suitability before getting the gaming license to open and operate the temporary facility.

According to Chicago Tribune, the next meeting with the Gaming Board has been set for June 15 and the operator may include it in the agenda for resolution. The failure to include the Medinah license on the agenda may reportedly set the temporary casino opening beyond July. A Bally’s spokesperson reportedly stated that “the IGB will determine the schedule and timeline while [Bally’s] continue to work toward the overall readiness to begin operations.”

Gaming and Nongaming Positions Wanted:

Bally’s is currently hiring staff from all Chicago neighborhoods and is offering specialized training for  61 job descriptions reportedly listed on the company’s web page. These positions cannot include convicted felons under current Illinois law, but a proposed bill currently processed by the state legislature may change this practice for some nongaming positions. In any case, all applicants must be at least 21 years old and must obtain an Illinois gaming license.

The Illinois Senate passed a bill in March to allow convicted felons to apply for nongaming positions after their submission of the circumstances of the crime and the evidence of rehabilitation. The proposed Senate Bill 1462 was considered by the House of Representatives and referred to the Rules Committee last month.

Gaming Board Administrator Marcus Fruchter said in a recent statement: “The Illinois Gaming Board believes that the language in Senate Bill 1462 allows individuals with a criminal record an opportunity for gainful employment at an Illinois casino and gives them a second chance to move beyond their past mistakes.”  As Chicago Tribune informs, Bally’s had no comments on the proposed legislation. The operator continues its hiring process for 700 vacant positions at its temporary Medinah Temple casino facility.