Construction of Bally's Chicago casino has been temporarily stopped by Illinois regulators due to the use of an unauthorized contractor.
Bally's Corp. hit a major snag in its $1.7 billion Chicago casino project after the Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) ordered a work stoppage. The reason? Bally's was discovered using an unapproved contractor, D&P Construction, with a shady past. This contractor has been linked to the Chicago mob in earlier years.
The Chicago Sun-Times broke the news, revealing that D&P Construction dumpsters were spotted on the Bally's construction site. D&P was previously associated with John and Peter DiFronzo, two individuals with ties to the Chicago mob. Although both have passed away, Peter's widow was previously a listed owner of the company.
In response to the revelation, the IGB halted construction and released a statement, expressing concerns about the use of undisclosed and unapproved vendors at the site. Bally's, for its part, claimed it was simply unaware of the use of an unapproved vendor and is now working to prevent such mishaps in the future.
Should the investigation into D&P's involvement evolve into a significant work stoppage, it could pose serious challenges for Bally's. The state law requires the casino to be up and running by September 2026, and even without the stoppage, the timeline is already tight for a project still in its early stages.
However, D&P's shady history isn't new. The contractor was also involved in the Rosemont casino scandal from years past. In 2001, the IGB accused D&P of having ties to organized crime during the construction of the Emerald Casino. The FBI later reported that D&P obtained contracts through illegal payoffs or intimidation. The Rosemont license was ultimately revoked and given to neighboring Des Plaines, home to the now-thriving Rivers Casino.
In other words, Bally's isn't the first to tangle with D&P. The company's checkered past raises serious questions about the integrity of Illinois' gaming industry, and the ongoing investigation promises to be a test of the IGB's commitment to maintaining that integrity.
- The Chicago Sun-Times disclosed that D&P Construction, a contractor linked to the Chicago mob previously, was found using dumpsters on the Bally's construction site.
- The Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) has expressed concerns about the use of undisclosed and unapproved vendors at the site and has halted construction.
- The investigation into D&P's involvement in Bally's project could potentially lead to significant work stoppages, which could poses challenges for Bally's, considering the tight timeline for the project's completion.
- D&P Construction's history includes involvement in the Rosemont casino scandal from years past, where they were accused of having ties to organized crime during the construction of the Emerald Casino. The FBI later reported that contracts were obtained through illegal payoffs or intimidation.
