Bally's lines up $560M loan for Bronx project
Bally’s Corp secures up to $560 million in senior secured term loan commitments to fund Bally’s Bronx pre-construction work and add short-term project-linked liquidity.
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Bally’s Corporation (BALY) entered into a new senior secured loan and security agreement on September 4, 2026 through its indirect subsidiary Bally’s New York Operating Company, LLC and related guarantor subsidiaries. The agreement with WhiteHawk Capital Partners provides closing date term loan commitments of $400 million and delayed draw term loan commitments of $160 million to support the Bally’s Bronx project and general corporate purposes.
The Loans will mature 18 months after their initial funding and, when funded, will bear interest at Term SOFR plus 8.50% per annum, subject to a floor. They will be guaranteed by the New York guarantor entities and secured by substantially all assets of the Bally’s New York loan parties. The agreement includes mandatory prepayments from certain asset sales, casualty events and unpermitted debt, permits voluntary prepayment (with a fee on full prepayment), and imposes covenants restricting additional indebtedness, dividends, asset sales, investments and liens, along with construction and development covenants tied to the Bally’s Bronx project.
Positive
- $400 million in closing date term loan commitments plus $160 million in delayed draw commitments provide substantial liquidity to fund Bally’s Bronx pre-construction and some general corporate needs.
- Financing is project-linked and secured to Bally’s New York loan parties, helping ring-fence collateral and aligning the debt structure with the Bally’s Bronx development.
- Loan structure includes delayed draw capacity, giving flexibility to access capital as project costs are incurred rather than all at once.
Negative
- The new senior secured Loans carry a relatively high stated cost of Term SOFR + 8.50% per annum, increasing interest expense once funded.
- The Loans mature only 18 months after initial funding, creating near-term refinancing or repayment pressure tied to project and broader financing execution.
- Covenants restrict additional indebtedness, dividends, asset sales, investments and liens, which may limit financial and strategic flexibility for the Bally’s New York loan parties.
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8-K Event Classification
4 items: 1.01, 2.03, 8.01, 9.01
4 items
Item 1.01
Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement
Business
The company signed a significant contract such as a merger agreement, credit facility, or major partnership.
Item 2.03
Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement
Financial
The company incurred a new significant debt or off-balance-sheet obligation.
Item 8.01
Other Events
Other
Voluntary disclosure of events the company deems important to shareholders but not covered by other items.
Item 9.01
Financial Statements and Exhibits
Exhibits
Financial statements, pro forma financial information, or exhibit attachments filed with this report.
Key Figures
Closing date term loan commitments: $400 million
Delayed draw term loan commitments: $160 million
Interest rate spread: 8.50% per annum over Term SOFR
+4 more
7 metrics
Closing date term loan commitments
$400 million
Aggregate principal amount under the new senior secured Loan Agreement
Delayed draw term loan commitments
$160 million
Aggregate principal amount available on a delayed draw basis
Interest rate spread
8.50% per annum over Term SOFR
Interest on the Loans when funded, subject to a customary floor
Loan maturity
18 months
Maturity after the initial funding date of the Loans
Number of casinos
20 casinos
Bally’s gaming operations across 11 U.S. states and Newcastle, UK
Gaming equipment
17,700 slot machines; 630 table games
Scale of Bally’s casino operations described in the company overview
Hotel rooms
3,950 rooms
Hotel capacity across Bally’s casino properties
Key Terms
senior secured term loan, delayed draw term loan commitments, Term SOFR, mandatory prepayment provisions, +2 more
6 terms
senior secured term loan financial
"providing for senior secured term loan commitments consisting of"
A senior secured term loan is a type of borrowing where a company borrows money and promises to pay it back over a fixed period, with the loan secured by the company's assets as collateral. Because it is "senior," it has priority over other debts if the company faces financial trouble, and being "secured" means lenders have a claim on specific assets. For investors, this makes the loan a safer and more predictable investment compared to unsecured or subordinate debts.
delayed draw term loan commitments financial
"and (ii) delayed draw term loan commitments in an aggregate"
A delayed draw term loan commitment is a lender's promise to make one or more fixed-term loans that a borrower can take later during a specified availability period, subject to agreed conditions, documentation and any covenant tests. For investors, it shows a company’s access to committed future cash — like a scheduled credit tap — which affects liquidity, plans to refinance or fund growth and the timing of increased leverage or covenant triggers.
Term SOFR financial
"bear interest at a rate per annum equal to Term SOFR for the applicable"
Term SOFR is a benchmark interest rate that reflects the cost of borrowing money over a specific period, based on actual transactions in the financial markets. It is used by lenders and borrowers to set the interest rates on loans and financial contracts, helping to ensure rates are fair and transparent. For investors, understanding term SOFR helps gauge borrowing costs and the overall direction of interest rates in the economy.
mandatory prepayment provisions financial
"The Loan Agreement includes mandatory prepayment provisions that require"
covenants financial
"The Loan Agreement contains covenants that, subject to certain exceptions"
Covenants are rules written into loan or bond contracts that require a company to do or avoid certain things—like keeping debt below a set level or not selling key assets. They matter to investors because they protect lenders and influence a company’s flexibility: tight covenants can limit growth plans but lower default risk, while loose covenants give freedom but increase credit risk, similar to how household rules affect a family’s budget choices.
events of default financial
"The Loan Agreement contains customary events of default, including"
Events of default are specific breaches or failures listed in a loan, bond, or credit agreement that give lenders the right to act, such as demanding immediate repayment, raising interest rates, or taking secured assets. They matter to investors because triggering one is like setting off a financial alarm: it raises the chance of foreclosure, restructuring, or bankruptcy and can sharply reduce the value of a company’s stock or bonds and increase borrowing costs.
FAQ
AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
What new financing did Bally’s Corporation (BALY) arrange for the Bally’s Bronx project?
Bally’s arranged senior secured term loan commitments led by WhiteHawk Capital Partners, including $400 million in closing date term loans and $160 million in delayed draw term loans, to fund Bally’s Bronx pre-construction costs and certain general corporate purposes.
How will Bally’s (BALY) use the proceeds from the new WhiteHawk financing?
Proceeds of the Loans will fund pre-construction costs and expenditures for the Bally’s Bronx project, with a portion of proceeds available to Bally’s Corporation for general corporate purposes, as described in the agreement and press release.
What are the interest rate and maturity terms of Bally’s new Loans?
When funded, the Loans will bear interest at Term SOFR plus 8.50% per annum, subject to a customary floor, and will mature 18 months after their initial funding under the Loan Agreement.
What secures the new Bally’s (BALY) senior secured Loans for the Bronx project?
The Loans will be guaranteed by Bally’s New York guarantor subsidiaries and secured by substantially all of the assets of the Bally’s New York loan parties, subject to certain exceptions described in the Loan Agreement.
Are there mandatory prepayment requirements in Bally’s new Loan Agreement?
Yes. The Bally’s New York loan parties must prepay the Loans upon certain events, including proceeds from specified asset sales, casualty events (with exceptions), and certain unpermitted debt issuances, with a customary fee on a full voluntary prepayment.
When is Bally’s (BALY) new WhiteHawk financing expected to close?
The press release states the new financing is expected to close in the third quarter of 2026, subject to regulatory approval and satisfaction of other customary closing conditions.
How large is Bally’s (BALY) current casino footprint as described in the press release?
Bally’s describes itself as operating 20 casinos across 11 U.S. states and one in Newcastle, UK, with approximately 17,700 slot machines, 630 table games, and 3,950 hotel rooms.
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
_______________________
FORM 8-K
_______________________
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): September 4, 2026
________________________
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (Commission File Number) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) | ||||||
| (Address of Principal Executive Offices and Zip Code) | ||||||||
________________________
(401 ) 475-8474
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12 (b) of the Act:
| Title of each class | Trading Symbol | Name of each exchange on which registered | ||||||
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter). □
Emerging growth company □
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.
On September 4, 2026, Bally’s New York Operating Company, LLC (“Bally’s New York”), an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Bally’s Corporation (“Bally’s”) and certain other subsidiaries of Bally’s (the “Bally’s New York Guarantors” and, together with Bally’s New York, the “Bally’s New York Loan Parties”) entered into a loan and security agreement with WhiteHawk Capital Partners, LP, as agent for the lenders, and the lenders from time to time party thereto (the “Loan Agreement”), providing for senior secured term loan commitments consisting of (i) closing date term loan commitments in an aggregate principal amount of $400 million and (ii) delayed draw term loan commitments in an aggregate principal amount of $160 million (collectively, the “Commitments” and the term loans made pursuant to the Commitments, the “Loans”).
The initial funding of the Loans under the Loan Agreement is subject to regulatory approval and the satisfaction of other customary conditions precedent. Proceeds of the Loans made under the Loan Agreement will be used to fund certain pre-construction costs and expenditures associated with the development of the Bally’s Bronx project and for general corporate purposes.
The Loans will mature 18 months after their initial funding under the Loan Agreement. The Loans, when funded, will bear interest at a rate per annum equal to Term SOFR for the applicable interest period (subject to a customary floor), plus 8.50% per annum. The Loans will be guaranteed by the Bally’s New York Guarantors and secured by substantially all of the assets of the Bally’s New York Loan Parties, subject to certain exceptions.
The Loan Agreement includes mandatory prepayment provisions that require the Bally’s New York Loan Parties to prepay the Loans upon certain events, including with the proceeds of certain asset sales, casualty events (subject to exceptions) and certain unpermitted debt issuances. Loans may be prepaid in whole or in part at any time, without premium or penalty, except in the case of a prepayment of the Loans in full, which is subject to a customary prepayment fee.
The Loan Agreement contains covenants that, subject to certain exceptions and qualifications, limit the ability of the Bally’s New York Loan Parties to, among other things, incur additional indebtedness, pay dividends or make certain other restricted payments, sell assets, make certain investments, and grant liens. The Loan Agreement also includes certain construction and development covenants relating to the Bally’s Bronx project. The Loan Agreement contains customary events of default, including, but not limited to, payment defaults, breaches of representations and warranties, covenant defaults, cross-defaults, certain events of bankruptcy and insolvency, judgment defaults or a change of control, which provisions permit the acceleration of the repayment of the Loans and termination of unfunded Commitments, together with accrued interest and applicable fees, as further set forth in the Loan Agreement.
The foregoing description of the Loan Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the full text of that agreement.
Item 2.03 Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.
The information set forth in Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference into this Item 2.03.
Item 8.01 Other Events.
On September 14, 2026, Bally’s issued a press release announcing the entry into the Loan Agreement described in Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K. A copy of the press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated by reference into this Item 8.01. The information provided pursuant to this Item 8.01, including Exhibit 99.1 in Item 9.01, is “furnished” and shall not be deemed to be “filed” with the SEC or incorporated by reference in any filing under the Exchange Act or the Securities Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in any such filings.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits.
| Exhibit No. | Description | |||||||
| 99.1 | Press Release dated September 14, 2026 | |||||||
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document). | |||||||
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| BALLY'S CORPORATION | ||||||||
| By: | /s/ Kim M. Barker | |||||||
| Name: | Kim M. Barker | |||||||
| Title: | Chief Legal Officer | |||||||
Date: September 14, 2026
Exhibit 99.1
BALLY’S CORPORATION SECURES NEW FINANCING
TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE BALLY’S BRONX PROJECT
PROVIDENCE, R.I., September 14, 2026 — Bally’s Corporation (NYSE: BALY) (“Bally’s” or the “Company”) announced today that it secured new financing led by WhiteHawk Capital Partners, LP to fund further development of the Bally’s Bronx project and general corporate purposes. The new financing comprises closing date term loan commitments in an aggregate principal amount of $400 million and delayed draw term loan commitments in an aggregate principal amount of $160 million (together, the “Facilities”).
Proceeds of the loans advanced under the Facilities (the “Loans”) will be used to fund certain pre-construction costs and expenditures associated with the development of the Bally’s Bronx project, with a portion of the proceeds available to the Company for general corporate purposes. The new financing is expected to close in the third quarter of 2026, subject to regulatory approval and the satisfaction of other customary closing conditions.
Bally’s Chairman of the Board, Soo Kim, commented, “This important financing allows us to progress the pre-construction planning process so that we are ready to complete the remainder of the capital raise and remain on schedule. Furthermore, the additional liquidity provides us greater flexibility for other capital opportunities.”
“We are pleased to partner with Bally’s on this important next phase of the Bronx project,” said Bob Louzan, Managing Partner at WhiteHawk Capital Partners. “This financing reflects our ability to structure flexible capital solutions for complex transactions and will support the project’s pre-construction work as Bally’s advances its broader financing plan.”
Citizens Capital Markets served as financial advisor to Bally’s Corporation. Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP served as legal advisor to Bally’s Corporation.
About Bally’s Corporation
Bally’s (NYSE: BALY) is a fast-growing global entertainment brand with 20 casinos across 11 U.S. states and one casino in Newcastle, UK, along with a golf course in New York and horse racetracks in Colorado and forthcoming in Wyoming. Bally’s also owns Bally Bet, a first-in-class sports betting and igaming platform licensed in 16 jurisdictions in North America. Bally’s holds a majority interest in Bally’s Intralot S.A. (ATSE: BYLOT), a leading lottery solutions supplier and gaming operator active in 39 jurisdictions worldwide. Bally’s casino operations include approximately 17,700 slot machines, 630 table games, and 3,950 hotel rooms. Bally’s also has rights to developable land in Las Vegas at the site of the former Tropicana Las Vegas, has been awarded a license to build a full-scale casino and resort in The Bronx, New York, and an integrated destination resort in Chicago, Illinois. Bally’s is the first publicly traded gaming company to achieve Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) certification through the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC). Bally’s has over 12,000 employees across the world, recognized for their innovation, energy, and dedication to creating thrilling gaming experiences.
About WhiteHawk
WhiteHawk Capital Partners, LP is a private credit investment manager focused on asset-based financing solutions primarily to middle market private and public companies across a variety of industries. WhiteHawk provides senior secured financings under a variety of structures for purposes of refinancing, recapitalization, growth, acquisition, restructuring, bridge, and DIP/emergence. For more information visit www.whitehawkcapital.com or contact info@whitehawkcapital.com.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Forward looking statements may generally be identified by the use of words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan” and “will” or, in each case, their negative, or other variations or comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements include all matters that are not historical facts. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that may or may not occur in the future. As a result, these statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual events may differ materially from those expressed in or suggested by the forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement made by Bally’s in this press release, its reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and other public statements made from time-to-time speak only as of the date made. New risks and uncertainties come up from time to time, and it is impossible for Bally’s to predict or identify all such events or how they may affect it. Bally’s has no obligation, and does not intend, to update any forward-looking statements after the date hereof, except as required by federal securities laws. Factors that could cause these differences include those included in Bally’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other reports filed by Bally’s with the SEC. These statements constitute Bally’s cautionary statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
| Investor Contact | Media Contact | |||||||
| Lauren Westerfield | Joseph Jaffoni, Christin Armacost | |||||||
| Global Vice President Public Relations | JCIR | |||||||
| 401-475- 8474 | 212-835-8500 | |||||||
| ir@ballys.com | baly@jcir.com | |||||||