The Illinois Gaming Board has OK'd another step toward Chicago getting its first casino.
Regulators yesterday approved licenses to run a temporary casino at Medinah Temple, the Chicago Sun-Times and Chicago Tribune report.
The board issued “initial supplier licenses” for two entities that control and would lease Medinah Temple on the Near North Side to Bally’s for its temporary casino. State records indicate both of the entities — Medinah Building LLC and Medinah Holdings LLC — are units of developer Al Friedman’s Friedman Properties.
Bally's hopes to have the Near North Side location up and running this summer, and Mayor Lori Lightfoot hopes to start collecting tax revenues as soon as possible to help pay off city pension debt.