Bally’s Chicago pays $1,200 slot jackpot after ID dispute delay

Bally’s Chicago has finally paid a $1,200 slot jackpot to a man who won on December 20 but was forced to wait more than a week due to a dispute over identification requirements.

The win occurred at the temporary Bally's casino operating inside the Medinah Temple in Chicago’s River North neighborhood. The patron, identified publicly as Nick in earlier reports, said the casino declined to issue a handpay after he presented a limited-term Illinois driver’s license.

Nick contacted local media to describe the delay, saying he had previously received multiple handpays at the property using the same form of identification. The $1,200 win triggered a handpay and the completion of a W-2G form, which reports gambling winnings to the federal government.

Payment issued after delay

More than a week after the win, a relative of Nick said the casino contacted him and issued the payment. “They finally called him yesterday, apologized, and paid him what they were supposed to pay,” the relative said.

Nick told CBS News Chicago that he has been a regular customer since the temporary casino opened in September 2023. “I’ve won 11 jackpots,” Nick said before the unpaid win. “In the past, never any problems. I’ve always had that kind of ID.”

CBS News Chicago reported that the man’s identity was protected because he is an asylum seeker who did not want to draw attention to his immigration status. The outlet reported the jackpot amount as $1,200 and said the casino issued the payment after its coverage, along with an offer of dinner.

Illinois gaming law requires slot attendants to obtain an Individual Taxpayer Identification number when issuing a handpay and completing a W-2G form. The form reports certain gambling winnings as personal income.

The federal reporting threshold for slot jackpots increased to $2,000 effective January 1, 2026. Nick said he had received previous handpays above $1,200 without issue using identification issued to individuals with temporary lawful status.

Customer reviews and identification concerns

Bally’s Chicago operates about 800 slot machines and 50 live dealer table games. On Google, the property holds a 3.4 out of 5 rating based on more than 1,100 reviews.

In one September review, a patron said the casino withheld 30% of a jackpot after classifying the individual as a foreign person despite the presentation of a Permanent Resident card.

Other reviewers have raised concerns about authorization of acceptable identification, including Canadian-issued IDs.