Bally’s CFO Updates Nevada Regulators on Chicago Casino Timeline, A’s Stadium Retail, and Bronx Mega-Casino

Bally’s Corporation Chief Financial Officer Mira Mircheva provided the most detailed public update yet on the company’s three major casino development projects Wednesday, appearing before the Nevada Gaming Control Board on a routine regulatory matter and fielding questions about the operator’s progress in Chicago, Las Vegas, and New York City. The company is simultaneously managing a temporary Chicago casino, building a permanent $2 billion Chicago integrated resort, developing retail and entertainment space at the former Tropicana Las Vegas site ahead of a Major League Baseball stadium opening, and planning a $4 billion casino in the Bronx.

In Chicago, Mircheva said the permanent casino is on track for a late 2026 opening, noting that the full steel structure is in place for both the podium and hotel tower following a topping-off ceremony held at the end of April. The operator acknowledged some weather delays earlier in the year but said crews are moving quickly to make up ground.

“We had some weather delays earlier in the year, but we’re moving very quickly and working toward targeting the project for the end of 2026,” Mircheva told the Board. The permanent property will feature slot machines and table games, entertainment and dining venues, and a convention center. Bally’s has publicly pushed back against Chicago’s recent approval of video gaming, arguing it does not believe expanded gaming licenses serve the best interests of the city given the scale of investment the operator is making in its integrated resort.

Las Vegas: Racing the Clock for A’s Opening Day 2028

At the former Tropicana Las Vegas site, where the Oakland Athletics are building a $2 billion baseball stadium, Bally’s goal is to have retail and other amenities operating in time for the A’s opening day in spring 2028. But Mircheva stopped short of offering a firm guarantee, citing pending approvals from Clark County and the Federal Aviation Administration.

“That would be ideal from our standpoint and we’re hoping to achieve that, but again we’ll have to firm up those plans as everything comes into place,” Mircheva said when pressed by Board Chair Mike Dreitzer about the April 2028 target. The county is awaiting FAA approval before proceeding to the County Commission, due to the site’s proximity to Harry Reid International Airport. The FAA review relates to height restrictions that could affect the configuration of planned hotel towers on the property.

Marnell Architecture is working on the podium plans, and JLL is in active negotiations with potential retail, entertainment, and restaurant tenants. Any hotel and casino openings are expected to follow the retail phase by an unspecified period.

New York City: $4 Billion Bronx Casino Moves Toward Demolition

On the company’s most ambitious project — a $4 billion integrated resort in the Bronx overlooking the East River — Mircheva said Bally’s has already invested a substantial amount of equity and is actively working to secure the remaining financing. Earlier this year, the company paid $157 million for land on the Pelham Bay site, which previously included a clubhouse and parking area associated with a golf course formerly owned by Donald Trump.

“We’re working on the project with various permits and moving toward demolition of the clubhouse and getting monitoring in place,” Mircheva said. The planned development includes 500,000 square feet of casino space, a 500-room hotel, and an arena for entertainment. Bally’s is one of several applicants competing for a New York City downstate casino license, and the project timeline is tied to the licensing process.

Mircheva also addressed the company’s financial health, saying that the merger of Bally’s International Interactive and Interlot, a recent refinancing, and a real estate sale have helped reduce outstanding debt while allowing the company to continue investing in its development pipeline.