Bally's Corporation is managing three major casino construction projects simultaneously, and the company's CFO gave Nevada regulators a candid update on each one this week. Mira Mircheva appeared before the Nevada Gaming Control Board on a routine regulatory matter Wednesday and answered questions about progress in Chicago, Las Vegas, and New York City — the three cities where Bally's has the most at stake.
The permanent Chicago casino is the project closest to opening. Mircheva said the full steel structure is now in place for both the podium and hotel tower following a topping-off ceremony in late April, and that the company is targeting completion by the end of 2026. Weather delays earlier in the year slowed progress, but she said crews have been making up lost 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 integrated resort will feature casino gaming, restaurants, entertainment venues, and a convention center. Bally's has been operating a temporary Chicago casino while the permanent property is under construction, and the two-property operation has been a complex undertaking for the Rhode Island-based gaming company.
Las Vegas: Retail in Time for the A's First Pitch
At the former Tropicana Las Vegas site, where the Oakland Athletics are constructing a $2 billion stadium, Bally's primary near-term goal is to have retail, entertainment, and dining amenities operational in time for the A's opening day in spring 2028. The casino and hotel components are expected to follow later. Mircheva told Board Chair Mike Dreitzer that while 2028 is the target, she could not offer an unconditional guarantee.
"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," she said. The path forward depends partly on Clark County and the Federal Aviation Administration, which must clear height restrictions related to the site's proximity to Harry Reid International Airport. Marnell Architecture is working on podium designs while JLL is negotiating with potential tenants for the retail and entertainment space.
Bronx Casino: Demolition Ahead, $4 Billion on the Line
Bally's most ambitious project is a proposed $4 billion integrated resort in the Bronx, New York. The company paid $157 million earlier this year for the former Trump Links site on Pelham Bay, and is now working through the permit and demolition phase. The planned project includes 500,000 square feet of casino space, a 500-room hotel, and an entertainment arena overlooking the East River.
"We're working on the project with various permits and moving toward demolition of the clubhouse and getting monitoring in place," Mircheva told the Board. Bally's is competing with other applicants for a New York City downstate gaming license, and the company's ability to advance the project depends on receiving that license. Mircheva said the company has already committed substantial equity to the project and is actively securing the remaining financing for the full $4 billion development.
Mircheva also flagged that the Bally's financial position has improved following a series of transactions including the merger of its interactive and lottery businesses, a refinancing, and a real estate sale that together reduced the company's overall debt load. Those improvements are enabling the company to continue investing across its development pipeline while managing leverage.
