The Ho-Chunk tribe of Wisconsin has reached a major point in the development of a casino complex for the city of Beloit. The tribe was approved by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, clearing the last federal hurdle needed to move forward with the project.

The tribe can now begin the construction phase of the casino, a project that has been in the works for almost a decade. The Ho-Chunk is located in Wisconsin, with headquarters in Black River Falls. The tribe had already negotiated agreements with state and with local officials, operating several casinos throughout the state.

Moving Forward in Beloit

In 2021, Governor Tony Evers approved the project, which will see the tribe spend $405 million to create a quality casino complex. The 32-acres of land in Beloit that the tribe owns will now be placed in a trust and can legally be used for casino gaming.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs decided to approve the plan and stated that it will be a great benefit to the tribe as well as the local community. The casino will be constructed near Interstate 39/90, which provides an easy corridor for access to the property.

The property will host a hotel and convention center and a water park along with a casino facility. The construction process will see 3,000 jobs created while 1,300 permanent positions will be created with the opening of the facility.

Karena Thundercloud, the Ho-Chunk Vice President, commented that this moment has been anticipated for years:

“There’s been some skepticism about the timeline because of the Nation’s reliance on the federal processes but we’ve been confident in the project’s viability and look forward to a bright future for Beloit, the state of Wisconsin, and the Ho-Chunk Nation.”

Building on Existing Gaming Businesses

The Ho-Chunk Nation is no stranger to casino gaming in Wisconsin. The tribe is well-suited to create the casino in Beloit, as they already offer gaming in several other cities of the state. Ho-Chunk Gaming casinos are currently situated in Madison, Black River Falls, Wittenberg, Baraboo, Nekoosa, and Tomah.

The new property will mark the 7th venue for the tribe, with a huge casino of just under 140,000 square feet. The tribe also plans to offer family-friendly fun with a 40,000-square-foot water park. It is unclear as to how long the construction process will take, but there is no doubt the tribe will work as quickly as possible to see the project up and running.