Editor
Bally’s River West Casino in Chicago was amid construction when work abruptly stopped after an investigation found alleged links to organized crime. The links involve a local waste-hauling service company.
The Illinois Gaming Board had to stop construction when the company started providing dumpster services at the construction site. The subcontractor was unauthorized and had previous links to organized crime.
The company that put this entire project in hot water was D&P Construction, a Melrose Park company. The FBI alleged they had ties to the Chicago mob, and after questions from local journalists from the Sun-Times newspaper, construction was stopped at once.
Bally’s spokesperson Lauren Westerfield commented on stopping construction of the casino:
“We appreciate the diligence and action of IGB. This is the process at work. We look forward to working with the IGB to eliminate the possibility of it happening again. We brought together the Chicago Community Builder’s Collective to give smaller city contractors a chance to participate in this amazing project. We will work with the CCBC to better achieve our shared objectives.”
It is unknown how long the construction will be paused for. Bally’s is cooperating with everything so far, according to the Illinois Gaming Board, but nevertheless, there must be a thorough investigation before construction can continue in full. The gaming board explained:
“The stoppage is to determine the extent to which undisclosed or unapproved vendors are performing work on this project, and to investigate both the facts surrounding D&P Construction Co., Inc.’s (D&P) work and pre-approval failures to disclose.”
Like the current competition for a casino in New York City, Bally’s won a battle for the coveted Chicago casino bid in 2022, when then-Mayor Lori Lightfoot selected them. Bally’s has subsequently put a lot of resources into making this casino one of the best in the Midwest and a crown jewel for gambling and for poker in Illinois.
The casino is set to be an impressive one boasting a planned 3,300 slots, 173 table games, 500 hotel rooms, a 3,000-seat entertainment venue, a two-acre public park, six restaurants, a food hall and three bars.
The revenue generated from the casino is meant to beef up funding for the city’s police and fire pensions, so it goes without saying that there are many within the Windy city who want this construction process to continue as soon as possible
