After years of planning, months of buildout and several days of monitored practice sessions, Bally’s Chicago got the green light Friday from the Illinois Gaming Board to launch the city’s long-sought first casino.

       Medinah Temple in River North is set to swing open its doors this weekend, welcoming gamblers to try their luck at an ornate temporary facility that is expected to fill revenue holes at the city, draw tourists downtown and set the table for what will ultimately be the state’s largest casino.

       “We would like to thank the Illinois Gaming Board for granting Bally’s the approval to begin welcoming public guests,” Mark Wong, vice president and general manager of Bally’s Chicago, said in a news release Friday. “Their confidence in our team’s ability to meet or exceed all regulatory requirements comes after months of extensive validation.”