American Alliance for Equal Rights v. City of Chicago
Case Overview
Meet The Client
The City of Chicago will soon have a new casino: Bally’s Chicago. To be built on a 30-acre site, this development will include a 3,000-seat theater, six restaurants, a food hall, approximately 3,000 slot machines, 173 table games, and VIP gaming areas. Other features of the development include a 500-room hotel tower with a large pool spa, a fitness center, a sun deck, and a rooftop restaurant. The development cost will likely be more than $1.7 billion.
Bally’s Chicago, Inc., a new corporate entity, has advertised an initial public offering to raise $250 million, but the investment opportunity is only open to “minorities,” identified elsewhere as “people of color” and “women.” These investors will own 25% of the financial interest of the casino development.
This race-based stock offering is illegal. Our client, AAER is seeking damages and an order opening up this investment opportunity to everyone, regardless of race.
Press Release
- WILL Challenges Chicago’s “Minority Only” Investment Opportunity (1/30/2025) - WILL representing the American Alliance for Equal Rights (AAER), filed a new lawsuit against the City of Chicago, the Illinois Gaming Board, and Bally’s Chicago Casino for an investment offering open only for “people of color” and “women.”
Complaint, January 2025