Bally’s Chicago Casino Faces Scrutiny After Violent Incidents, Former Employee Alleges Retaliation
A recent surge in criminal activity and allegations of a toxic internal culture are raising serious safety concerns at Bally’s Chicago casino. A former employee has come forward with claims of unreported harassment and threats, coinciding with a string of violent incidents at the River North establishment.
Within the past week, Bally’s Chicago has been the site of an armed robbery in its parking garage and an assault and robbery of an employee in a casino bathroom, both confirmed by the Chicago Police Department. These events have prompted a former dealer, Steve Zaldua, to speak out about what he describes as a pattern of ignoring safety risks within the casino.
Zaldua, who worked at Bally’s from its opening in September 2023 until October, alleges he was retaliated against after repeatedly reporting safety concerns. He is currently involved in a labor dispute with the casino. According to Zaldua, the issues began within his first few months on the job, when he witnessed patrons verbally abusing and even threatening dealers with physical harm. He claims these individuals were often allowed to remain on the casino floor.
“See no evil, hear no evil is basically the way that Bally’s operates from day one,” Zaldua stated in an interview with FOX 32 Chicago on Wednesday. He further detailed documenting multiple incidents between April 2024 and June 2025, including fights where aggressors were permitted to return to the casino. Zaldua asserts that he personally reported four instances that were severe enough to warrant immediate action. He also alleges he experienced verbal harassment and threats of violence himself, with Bally’s either failing to respond or delaying intervention for hours. Emails reportedly sent by Zaldua to supervisors suggest he was discouraged from filing incident reports and that colleagues feared repercussions for speaking up.
Bally’s declined to provide further comment on the allegations raised by Zaldua. However, the company did address the armed robbery, clarifying that it does not own, manage, or operate the parking garage, despite prominently displaying its logo there. A company statement indicated that its security personnel acted as “good Samaritans” to assist the victims. When questioned about whether security guards inside the casino are armed, Bally’s did not respond. The company did confirm it contracts with a third-party security firm that provides armed guards around the building’s perimeter.
The recent incidents and Zaldua’s allegations paint a troubling picture of the environment at Bally’s Chicago, raising questions about the casino’s commitment to employee and patron safety. The situation underscores the critical need for robust security measures and a transparent reporting system within the gaming industry.
This story was reported by Bret Buganski of FOX 32 Chicago.
