A groundbreaking recently was held for million in renovations at the Menominee Casino Resort in Keshena, Wisconsin. The project will include centralizing table and poker gaming areas, updating slot machines, installing an enhanced ventilation system, expanding the bar and lounge and building a new resort entrance. General Manager Jim Reiter said the renovations, expected to be completed by the fall, will provide guests “a world-class casino experience. it’s a big step for us. Once it starts, now, there’s no looking back and it’s going to go hard and fast.”
Meanwhile, the Bureau of Indian Affairs has extended until next February Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker’s deadline to make a decision on the Menominee’s proposed $800 million casino in Kenosha. Scott had said he would not approve that project unless all of the state’s 11 tribes agree to it. The Potawatomi and Ho-Chunk remain strongly against it out of concern the new casino would impact their casinos in the area.
Ho-Chunk public relations officer Collin Price said the tribe’s stance on the Kenosha casino “won’t change at all.” But he added, regarding the Keshena plans, “We don’t have any objection or any issue with the expansion project. In fact, I think it’s a good thing they’re building their entertainment center-gaming experience and along with that hopefully adding some more jobs for the area.”
Menominee Tribe Chairwoman Laurie Boivin said, ”Our tribe has always reached out to both tribes.” She added the tribe has the same goals for both the Keshena expansion and the Kenosha proposal. “Create additional jobs and bring in additional revenue for the tribe. That’s a good thing. It creates more opportunity for tribal membership,” she said.
