In Illinois and a second federally-recognized tribe is reportedly soon set to enter the race for the right to build and operate a casino due to be licensed for the southern suburbs of Chicago.

According to a Tuesday report from the Chicago Sun-Times newspaper, the Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin is preparing to put forward a proposal that would see it spend some $380 million in order to construct a casino adjacent to its Southland Center sports complex in the small village of Lynwood. The tribe explained that the envisioned 20-story facility could employ up to 1,100 people once finished and would also feature a luxury hotel and retail areas as well as a number of restaurants and bars.

Local consent:

The Chicago Sun-Times reported that the Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin now has until the end of the month to submit their license application to the Illinois Gaming Board but must first receive approval from officials in Lynwood. As such, the Cook County community’s elected board is purportedly due to vote on the tribe’s proposal as early as next week in hopes of winning the right to host the casino and receive 2% of its gross revenues.

Additional allowance:

Illinois is already home to ten casinos but legislation signed into law by the Midwestern state’s Governor, Jay Robert Pritzker, in June is due to see this complement grow by as many as six with the licensing of gambling venues for the cities of Chicago, Waukegan, Danville and Rockford as well as for locations in the more rural jurisdictions of Williamson County and Cook County. Previously known as the Wisconsin Winnebago Tribe, the Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin is already reportedly responsible for six casinos in its home state and is awaiting federal approval before breaking ground on a seventh being planned for the city of Beloit.

Competing communities:

The newspaper reported that four other suburban Chicago communities encompassing Matteson, Calumet City, Crestwood and Country Club Hills have already expressed an interest in hosting the planned Cook County casino while the Poarch Band of Creek Indians unveiled a proposal earlier this month that would see it lay out upwards of $275 million so as to bring such a development to a 24-acre site located along the border between the villages of East Hazel Crest and Homewood.

Established experience:

Paul Fox from the Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin reportedly told the Chicago Sun-Times that his tribe has ‘a proven track record of getting it right’ and that its planned Lynwood casino would drive ‘economic development growth and create jobs in the south suburbs.’

Fox reportedly told the newspaper…

“Over the last 15 years, we have built strong relationships in the region as demonstrated by the development and operation of the Southland Center and we are committed to strengthening those ties and deepening that investment.”