Bally’s Chicago is going through criticism for quietly operating a free shuttle between its short-term gaming facility contained in the historic Medinah Temple and the Windy Metropolis’s Chinatown neighborhood.
The outside of Bally’s Chicago is seen in November 2023. Bally’s Chicago is going through some backlash for operating a free shuttle to the on line casino from Chicago’s Chinatown neighborhood. (Picture: CoStar Group)
Reviews surfaced this week that Bally’s has been transporting individuals from the Chinatown space about three miles north of the on line casino to gamble since October. The free bus picks up and drops off from exterior the Chinatown Public Library each hour.
Chinese language individuals, we prefer to gamble,” Chinatown resident Wing Chan instructed ABC Chicago.
Not everyone seems to be thrilled about Bally’s seemingly concentrating on a sure demographic. Grace Chan McKibben, the chief director of the Coalition for a Higher Chinese language American Group, says the nonprofit she leads was fashioned 25 years in the past in response to Northwest Indiana casinos operating related shuttles from Chicago’s Chinatown.
I believe it’s troubling, as a result of it looks as if Bally’s is particularly involved in prospects which can be coming from Chinatown,” McKibben stated. “I believe there’s a priority. And the priority is for the individuals which may be hooked on playing and will have issues.”
McKibben stated it was solely just lately delivered to her consideration that Bally’s was operating a shuttle between the on line casino and Chinatown. A report by Block Membership Chicago, a nonprofit information group centered on the nation’s third-most populated metropolis, broke the Chinatown shuttle information.
Asian Communities Fancy Playing
“In case you don’t gamble, you don’t understand how fortunate you might be” is a well-liked saying amongst Asian communities, together with the Chinese language and Vietnamese. Stroll into any on line casino in a serious U.S. metropolis and the chances are good there shall be a substantial variety of Asians testing that luck.
Chicago Ald. Nicole Lee, whose eleventh Ward contains Chinatown, instructed Block Membership Chicago that she too has considerations with Bally’s transporting Asians to its on line casino. She plans to fulfill with Bally’s reps and Chinatown leaders early subsequent yr to verify the service isn’t preying on the Chinese language neighborhood.
Mark Wong, the final supervisor of Bally’s Chicago, says the shuttle is out there to all riders. He says the shuttle is to create “higher entry to the on line casino” and the corporate has obtained “constructive suggestions” on the Chinatown service.
Together with the Chinatown shuttle, Bally’s Chicago runs a shuttle from Furama Restaurant at 2828 S. Wentworth, simply south of Chinatown. Wong says the on line casino is mulling extra routes for 2024.
24/7 On line casino Playing
Bally’s Chicago just lately went 24/7. When it opened in September, the short-term facility was open every day from 8 a.m. to 4 a.m. The on line casino’s working hours went across the clock on Dec. 27 after receiving the go-ahead from the Illinois Gaming Management Board.
Bally’s Chicago gives almost 800 slot machines from penny machines to $100 per spin. The ability additionally gives greater than 50 desk video games, together with baccarat, which is the sport of selection amongst many Asian gamblers.
The Medinah Temple facility gives three eating places, with one catering to Asian palates. Kitchen 888 is dubbed “a contemporary high-energy restaurant and noodle bar impressed by Asian avenue meals.”
Bally’s continues to maneuver ahead with designing its everlasting resort — a $1.74 billion enterprise — in River West on the Freedom Heart.
