Bally’s Temporary Casino – Medinah Temple

Level-1 provided technology consulting and infrastructure planning for Bally’s first Chicago casino at the historic Medinah Temple.

Before the permanent Bally’s Casino could rise in River West, Chicago’s first-ever casino opened its doors inside the historic Medinah Temple. This landmark venue originally built in 1912 was reimagined as a 34,000-square-foot, multi-level gaming destination, complete with 754 slot machines, 56 table games, and multiple food and beverage options. The temporary casino launched in September 2023 and quickly became a bustling hub, attracting over 80,000 visitors in its first month alone and averaging nearly 2,700 guests per day. 

More than a stopgap, the temporary casino represented Bally’s debut in Chicago. Its activation required not only technical precision, but strategic coordination to establish a reliable presence in the River North entertainment district while the permanent River West resort moved through design and construction. That’s where Level‑1’s consulting expertise proved essential. 

We provided technology consulting services to support Bally’s temporary casino operations at Medinah Temple, ensuring that voice, data, and network infrastructure aligned seamlessly with security, capacity, and guest service requirements. Operating 24/7, the venue supports not just gaming but hospitality, back-of-house operations, and rapid turnover, all of which demand stable connectivity and responsive systems. 

What We Delivered

• Technology consulting to support venue operations, including voice, data, network, and guest services 
• Infrastructure planning to support casino gaming systems and administrative functions 
• Consultation for security, access control, and emergency systems integration 
• Strategic advisory across buildout stages to ensure continuity between temporary and permanent sites 
• Guidance on regulatory alignment, public safety coordination, and technology risk mitigation 

The transformation of Medinah Temple was a pivotal chapter in Bally’s Chicago rollout. Our work helped ensure that the city’s first casino was launched not only on schedule, but at the standard expected of a global gaming brand. With the groundwork laid at Medinah Temple, the stage was set for the next chapter of Bally’s Chicago Casino complex.