Bally’s Looking To Hire 300 Dealers For Temporary Casino In River North

DOWNTOWN — Bally’s is looking to train and hire its first batch of dealers for the temporary casino slated to open this summer at Medinah Temple.

Bally’s Chicago in partnership with City Colleges of Chicago will put local residents through 12-16 weeks of training at its newly launched Dealer Training School.

The dealer school is free and takes three to fours per day, five days per week, company officials said. The training is unpaid, but those who make it through and attain their gaming license will be offered a job, Bally’s officials said.

Dealers will be offered part-time or full-time positions with a starting rate of $9.50 an hour. Dealers can earn 25-50 cents more an hour for each additional table game they learn, Bally’s officials said at a informational meeting Tuesday.

Training will be available for roulette, craps, blackjack and baccarat.

Dealers will also earn tips on top of their hourly wage. Tips are pooled and can average $25-$45 an hour, depending on the day, officials said.

People who want to attend dealer school will have to participate in an informal panel interview Feb. 25 or March 4 at Bally’s Chicago Administration Office, 640 N. LaSalle St. Those interested can register online.

Candidates will be asked three questions, and it’s “all for fun” officials said. The goal of the panel interview is to get to know participants and which classes they are interested in.

Candidates will be required to take a color assessment to make sure they can see the differences in playing chips, along with a timed math test.

The dealers hired for Medinah Temple will transition to the permanent facility slated to be built on the site of the Chicago Tribune Freedom Center site in River West. The casino is scheduled to open in 2026.

Bally’s is hosting informational sessions for people who want to learn more about the positions.

Additional sessions are 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. at the following dates and locations:

• Feb. 23 at Jesse White Community Center, 410 W. Chicago Ave.
• Feb. 27 at Harry S Truman College, 1145 W. Wilson Ave.
• Feb. 28 at Olive-Harvey College, 10001 S. Woodlawn Ave.

Subscribe to Block Club Chicago, an independent, 501(c)(3), journalist-run newsroom. Every dime we make funds reporting from Chicago’s neighborhoods.

Click here to support Block Club with a tax-deductible donation. 

Thanks for subscribing to Block Club Chicago, an independent, 501(c)(3), journalist-run newsroom. Every dime we make funds reporting from Chicago’s neighborhoods. Click here to support Block Club with a tax-deductible donation.

Listen to “It’s All Good: A Block Club Chicago Podcast”: