Case Name:
American Alliance for Equal Rights v. City of Chicago
Case Status:
Case WonWILL was pleased to reach a settlement with Bally's Casino Chicago in June of 2025. Bally's also abandoned their discriminatory investment program.
Case Background
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.
Case Documents
Complaint, January 2025
Stipulation of Dismissal, June 2025
Meet the Client
The American Alliance for Equal Rights (AAER) is a civil rights organization run by Edward Blum, and is a sister organization to Students for Fair Admission, the group responsible for the landmark decision ending affirmative action in higher education.
