Bally’s Chicago has appointed Cheryl Ash as its new chief financial officer to succeed Charlie Diao, who is set to join Australian casino operator Star Entertainment.
Diao is stepping down at the end of the month as CFO of Bally’s Chicago, the new $1.7 billion casino resort that is slated to open in Illinois next year.
Subject to receipt of customary regulatory approvals, he will be succeeded by Cheryl Ash, who currently serves as senior vice president of finance for Bally’s Corporation’s Casinos and Resorts division.
She was previously corporate chief accounting officer and Board Member for Queen Casino & Entertainment for more than six years, prior to its merger with Bally’s last year.
Ash is a seasoned finance executive with over 18 years of leadership experience in the casino–hospitality industry. In her current role with Bally’s, she provides strategic financial leadership across multiple casino and resort operations.
“Her leadership has been instrumental in standardizing processes across multiple properties and strengthening financial governance in multi-jurisdictional gaming environments,” said Bally’s.
Bally’s is officially targeting a late 2026 opening for its $1.7 billion permanent resort in River West, Illinois.
Earlier this year, Illinois State Representative Kam Buckner introduced a bill (HB 4437) that would allow Bally’s to extend its temporary operation at Medinah Temple by up to 12 months.
If passed, this would shift the mandatory completion deadline for the permanent facility from September 2026 to September 2027.
The bill is currently moving through the Illinois House and recently advanced beyond the introductory phase, and is now in the hands of the House Gaming Committee.
Shares in Bally’s Corporation (NYSE:BALY) closed 5.12 per cent lower at $11.31 per share in New York Thursday.