Plans for the long-anticipated Ho-Chunk Tribe casino in Beloit, Wisconsin, are steadily moving forward, according to tribal leaders, although specific timelines for construction have not yet been disclosed.
The off-reservation project near the Wisconsin-Illinois border has been a topic of discussion for decades. In 1999, Beloit voters approved the casino in a referendum, but a series of setbacks have delayed its construction.
More recently, in May 2021, Democratic Governor Tony Evers gave the green light to the project, and last year, it received federal approval when the Bureau of Indian Affairs designated 33 acres of land to be placed into a trust for the casino.
Ho-Chunk leaders are actively engaging with local officials to propel the project forward, with Casey Brown, Ho-Chunk’s spokesperson, confirming to Wisconsin Public Radio the commitment of the newly elected Ho-Chunk president, Jon Greendeer, to the casino venture.
Greendeer previously served as the tribe’s president from 2011 to 2015 and was part of the casino project during his earlier tenure. Brown stated: “He was actively involved, and he’s always been for the gaming facility down in Beloit.”
However, there have been some cautious sentiments expressed by Greendeer’s predecessor, Marlon White Eagle, over the project. White Eagle said earlier in the year that while the Beloit casino project is important, it shouldn’t come at the expense of other tribal enterprises.
He emphasized the need to prioritize existing casino facilities and capital projects before pursuing the new casino venture. But with the new administration now in office, Brown indicated a renewed focus on moving ahead with the casino plans.
Despite the challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic over the last few years, Brown expressed confidence in the resilience of Ho-Chunk’s gaming facilities, stating: “Our facilities are strong, and they’re bouncing back and coming back… We certainly are looking forward to opening the facility in Beloit, hopefully soon.”
The pandemic significantly impacted the tribal gaming industry, with Wisconsin tribes experiencing a more than 31% decline to $890 million in net gaming revenue between the 2020 and 2021 fiscal years. However, by the 2022 fiscal year, there was a partial recovery, with the statewide net win reaching $1.09 billion.
While development plans for the Beloit casino have not yet been formally submitted to the city’s Common Council, Drew Pennington, Beloit’s economic development director, expressed optimism regarding the project’s prospects. He confirmed ongoing communication with the new Ho-Chunk leadership and assured that the casino project remains on track, albeit with additional due diligence.
Under an intergovernmental agreement approved by local officials, local governments stand to receive 2% of the Beloit casino’s net win, with 70% going to the city of Beloit and 30% allocated to Rock County. The Ho-Chunk Nation’s Beloit casino has previously been described as a $405 million endeavor, which was billed as including a hotel, convention center and water park, and set to become one of the state’s largest gaming properties.
