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A new retail sports betting option will soon be available at an Illinois casino.
The Rock Island City Council recently approved a $34 million renovation project to enhance Bally’s Quad Cities Casino & Hotel. This will provide residents with a new location to enjoy sports betting in Illinois and place bets on their favorite teams.
The funding will be used to renovate hotel rooms and incorporate a Bally’s Sportsbook onto the casino floor. The project is anticipated to begin in December 2025 and is expected to take approximately four years to finish.
Bally’s has not yet received a sports betting license in Illinois, as their application to the Illinois Gaming Board is still pending.
Bally’s casino looks to increase jobs and tax revenue with renovation
Rock Island city officials anticipate a direct economic impact for the city, as local and state taxes generated from sports betting will contribute to the revenue. As per the agreement, Bally’s Quad Cities Casino & Hotel is set to receive up to $4.7 million from the city’s Tax Increment Finance District (TIF).
This will be the first upgrade the casino has received since opening in 2008, with no cost to taxpayers. The city has $12.5 million in eligible TIF redevelopment costs, and in order to receive the $4.7 million inducement, Bally’s must invest $12.5 million into the $34 million project.
Miles Brainard, Director of Community and Economic Development for Rock Island City, recently discussed with local TV station WVIK the potential for Bally’s Sportsbook to remain competitive with Iowa sportsbooks once its new gaming facility opens and offers sports betting.
Brianard stated that recently, Illinois has seen an increase in the number of new casinos entering the market. He mentioned that while Chicago will have one, there will also be a casino in Rockford, closer to their location. Brianard emphasized the importance of these additions in order for the casinos to remain competitive.
Details of the Bally’s Quad Cities Casino renovation
The project includes renovating all 205 hotel rooms and converting DJ’s Steakhouse into a sportsbook and sports lounge at Bally’s. The new gaming venue will have multiple big-screen TVs and a private party room.
Bally’s is looking forward to creating 80 new jobs and boosting employee compensation.
Bally’s also building largest Illinois casino
Bally’s, the company behind the largest casino project in Illinois, is constructing the $1.7 billion Bally’s Chicago casino in the River West district.
The project will generate 3,000 jobs in construction and create an additional 3,000 permanent positions.
The permanent Bally’s Chicago casino is set to debut in 2026, with plans underway to open a temporary casino at Medinah Temple in River North in the meantime.
Two supplier licenses were recently approved by the Illinois Gaming Board for the companies, specifically for the owners of the building and the land on which it is located.
Bally’s has not provided a specific date for the temporary casino’s opening, but it is expected to be operational by the summer according to observers.
