The United States is moving forward with two casino developments at different stages. In Nevada, Clark County unanimously approved a resort on the abandoned SkyVue site on July 22, 2026. In Illinois, Bally’s Chicago has completed its main structure and is preparing to open in spring 2027.
The Nevada project will occupy 11.8 acres across from Mandalay Bay at 3941 South Las Vegas Boulevard in Paradise. Investor Eli Applebaum, through Kulik River Capital LLC, acquired the land for US$70 million. Tempo Ventures is listed as developer, Steelman Partners as architect, Kimley-Horn as landscape designer, and Brown, Brown & Premsrirut as legal representative. The total construction budget, casino operator and commercial name remain undisclosed.
Mike Dreitzer
The 29-story, 752-room tower will feature a heart-shaped glass façade, full-height LED display, casino, restaurants, retail, pool, spa, gym and more than 42,000 square feet of convention space. Columns abandoned by the failed SkyVue observation wheel will support a restaurant suspended 265 feet above the property. FAA requirements forced the developers to reduce the tower by approximately 60 feet and cut the original 874-room design. Preliminary filings projected 1.7 million square feet and 1,421 parking spaces.
Jennifer Togliatti
The zoning approval does not constitute a gaming licence. The development must obtain construction permits and undergo investigation by the Nevada Gaming Control Board, chaired by Mike Dreitzer. Final licensing authority rests with the Nevada Gaming Commission, led by Jennifer Togliatti.
Bally’s will invest US$1.7 billion in its 30-acre Chicago River complex. It will include 3,400 slot machines, 173 tables, a 500-room hotel, a 34-story tower, a 3,000-seat theatre, ten food-and-beverage venues and 3,300 parking spaces. Soo Kim chairs Bally’s; Ameet Patel leads Bally’s Chicago Inc., while Ryan Coppola heads operations.
Soo Kim
GLPI, led by Peter Carlino, will provide up to US$940 million for construction. HKS designed the complex, WATG is developing the interiors and CCBC is executing construction. The Illinois Gaming Board, chaired by Dionne Hayden and administered by Marcus Fruchter, has authorised Medinah Temple to operate through September 2027.
