Fire Queen

What is Fire Queen?

Kim said the purpose of convening the call was to “reiterate our deep commitment to Bally’s Chicago” and to address “inaccurate reports” from the press saying that construction had stopped or slowed after the update that was released in early August.

“Construction continues every day, and there are approximately 1,000 skilled tradespeople working on the construction of the permanent Bally’s Chicago resort,” Kim said.

The casino remains on track for an early 2027 opening, Kim asserted, but the company changed how it is “sequencing certain elements of the development”. Kim said that Bally’s was actually “over-delivering” on its commitments to the city and reset the construction timeline to better align with its Host Community Agreement. In addition, he noted that the company would soon be arranging tours of the construction site with investors and shareholders.

What is Fire Queen?

Sponsorship by betting companies would be prohibited for clubs and other sports entities, federations, leagues, competitions, sports broadcasts, cultural events, shows, educational and social projects, philanthropic entities, civil society organisations, political parties, candidates and election campaigns, as well as digital influencers, athletes, artists and celebrities.

The ban covers brand exposure, naming rights, licensing, ambassadors and other forms of promotional association. The text provides a 24-month period for adapting or terminating sponsorship contracts, and the signing, renewal, or extension of contracts will only be permitted if the respective term of validity expires within those 24 months.

Sponsorship activities involving children and adolescents, schools, and youth sports categories are also prohibited. Betting companies will also be banned from associating their brand with campaigns or projects related to mental health, suicide prevention, financial education, treatment of gambling disorders, social assistance, prevention of over-indebtedness or protection of vulnerable families. 

What is Fire Queen?

The DSWV said the findings should prompt a thorough reassessment of official black market size estimates in Germany.

The DOCV, another trade body representing licensed online casino operators in Germany, also expressed support for the prosecutorial efforts. However, it emphasised that the raid exposed regulatory gaps which had allowed organised crime to flourish.

Kevin O’Neal, a DOCV board member, argued the scale of the investigation calls the GGL’s broader black market estimates into question. He cited the regulator’s 2025 activity report, which put the 2024 share at 23% (€547 million in gross gaming revenue), against Nielsen data suggesting a share of around 56%.