DOWNTOWN — The Illinois Gaming Board approved key licenses for River North’s Medinah Temple on Thursday, a first step for the temporary casino to open.
The board unanimously approved supplier licenses for two entities related to Medinah Temple: Medinah Building LLC and Medinah Holdings LLC. The entities cover the site’s building and the land it’s on, the gaming board confirmed.
But the temporary casino slated for 600 N. Wabash Ave. just a few blocks from the Mag Mile will not be able to open without the gaming board approving Bally’s gaming license, which is still under review.
Bally’s executives and city officials want the temporary casino at Medinah Temple to open this summer. It’s unclear if Bally’s gaming license will be approved in time.
The Gaming Board has up to a year to review Bally’s application with the possibility of an extension, according to state law.
The Medinah Temple casino will open 24/7 and have 800 slot machines, 50 gaming tables, a restaurant and bars across three floors.
Bally’s submitted its gaming application in August after the city announced Bally’s as its top choice in May. The $1.7 billion casino and resort is slated to be built at the Tribune Publishing site at Chicago Avenue and Halsted Street in River West.
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At the time, it was also revealed Medinah Temple would be the site of the temporary casino, instead of the original site at 700 W. Chicago Ave., the former Tribune printing plant.
Officials said the location was changed to Medinah Temple after concerns were raised about traffic in and out of the Chicago Avenue location during construction of the permanent casino site.
The change was extremely unpopular with River North Residents and Ald. Brendan Reilly (42nd), who has repeatedly condemned the last-minute change.
Reilly and residents have cast doubt on a traffic study of Medinah Temple, commissioned by Bally’s and conducted by Fish Transportation, which concluded that the temporary site will have little impact on traffic and parking availability.
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At a community meeting in November, casino executives shared the company plans to open an employment and training center early this year with a casino job fair slated for late spring or early summer.
By state statute, the Illinois Gaming Board limits the operation of a temporary casino to two years, with an option to extend for an additional 12 months. Bally’s plans to use Medinah Temple for two to three years, officials have said.
Permanent and temporary facilities can’t legally operate at the same time, according to Illinois Gaming Board. As soon as the permanent site opens, the temporary one will close.
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