The Ho-Chunk Nation has been waiting nearly a year for a decision from the Bureau of Indian Affair regarding its plans to build a casino in Beloit, Wisconsin. But good news may be imminent, according to Ho-Chunk Public Information Officer Ryan Greendeer. He recently said, “We are at the very last stages of concurrence and approval. We haven’t heard anything but all signs point that it’s going to be something that’s good for the community. Yes, we had some anticipations and we had good things coming back to us. It’s right there. You can see the finish line.”
One of Wisconsin’s two federally recognized tribes, Ho-Chunk has plans to build a $400 million hotel and casino resort on 33 acres the tribe owns less than a mile from the Illinois state line along Interstate 39/90, if the site is taken into federal trust.
The project would include a 139,700-square-foot casino with 2,200 slot machines and 50 gaming tables, plus a 300-room hotel, 175,000 square feet of retail space, a 40,000-square-foot water park, convention center and dining outlets. Officials said the development would create nearly 2,000 full-time jobs and generate more than $225 million in annual economic impact for Rock County and another $3 million a year for the host county and city.
The tribe announced the project in 2016. Its land-trust application languished until the BIA announced in July 2018 it would review the application. A draft environmental impact statement was issued in November 2018 and a public hearing on the proposal was held December 11, 2018. In February 2019, a state report issued by then-Governor Scott Walker’s administration to incoming Governor Tony Evers acknowledged the Ho-Chunk Nation is entitled to one more casino property, its seventh in Wisconsin. In May 2019 the BIA published a Final Environmental Impact Statement for the property. But no action has been taken since then.
Despite no definitive word that a ruling is near, Greendeer said the tribe is in the process of choosing an architect to “shore up what we have” and also is considering partnership opportunities.
If federal approval is granted, Governor Tony Evers would be required to accept or reject the project.
The tribe currently operates Ho-Chunk Gaming casinos in Black River Falls, Baraboo, Madison, Nekoosa, Tomah and Wittenberg.
