Clint Wolf July, 13 2023
BELOIT
No one seems to know when there will be a ground-breaking ceremony for the Ho-Chunk Casino and Resort facility in Beloit, and a letter from a former Ho-Chunk Nation presidents seems to indicate it will be later rather than sooner.
In a letter from former Ho-Chunk Nation President Marlon WhiteEagle, which appeared on the Indiangaming.com website on June 1, he indicated priorities should be placed at existing Ho-Chunk properties rather than Beloit.
He said the Beloit project has been nearly 20 years in the making and it is now closer to reality. Although he said opening a casino in Beloit is still a goal, other Ho-Chunk properties have more immediate needs.
“So much has changed in 20 years since initial plans were developed,” WhiteEagle’s letter stated regarding the Beloit project. “The BIA’s trust process incurs numerous expenses other businesses do not have to deal with. Our Beloit casino project is important, but it should not be at the expense of our other enterprises.
“As president, I’ve met with our tribal people and employees at listening sessions and at other events who have said they believe our existing casino facilities should be a priority over the allure of a shiny, new casino in Beloit,” WhiteEagle continued. “It serves us best to see our existing casinos capital projects receiving funding, with the end goal of opening a new Beloit casino.”
Jon Greendeer was sworn in as the new Ho-Chunk President on July 5. He previously served as Ho-Chunk Nation president from 2011 — 2015.
Casey Brown, executive public relations officer for the Ho-Chunk Nation, said he does not discount the statements made by WhiteEagle, but he points out he no longer is Ho-Chunk president. He said the Ho-Chunk Nation currently is setting up appointments for executive directors and other transition measures before moving on to projects such as the Beloit casino.
“We haven’t laid out what our current priorities will be,” Brown said.
Brown said that during the COVID-19 pandemic, casinos had to shut down and WhiteEagle’s priority was focused on reopening and reinvigorating the gaming properties after COVID-19 restrictions were lifted.
The delays with the Beloit project have been caused by a variety of issues, Brown said.
“I understand the frustration, but this is not something that can happen overnight,” he said. “When the Ho-Chunk Nation was getting estimates on what this project would cost, it was pre-pandemic. A lot has changed since then and some aspects of the project are no longer feasible.”
The process of placing the land in trust also has many complicated aspects and expenses, Brown said.
Brown said Ho-Chunk officials have stayed in contact with Beloit city officials regarding its plans.
Beloit officials said they have been assured by Ho-Chunk officials that the casino project still is being pursued.
“We have been assured that the Ho-Chunk Nation leadership, including the Legislature and President Greendeer, are supportive of the Beloit project,” said Regina Dunkin, Beloit City Council president. “The Nation is actively finalizing its design and our Council eagerly looks forward to the next steps in the process.”
“The city of Beloit anticipates meeting with the new leadership in the Ho-Chunk Nation as the design phase wraps up soon,” Beloit City Manager Jerry Gabrielatos said. “We look forward to being a good partner to the Nation to see this vibrant project come to life.”
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers approved the Beloit Casino Project in March of 2021. Final federal approval came in May of 2022 when the Bureau of Indian Affairs approved placing 33 acres of the 73.5 acre site owned by the Ho-Chunk Nation in trust. The site is near the corner of Willowbrook Road and Colley Road off Interstate 39/90. Initial plans were for a casino, hotel, convention center and waterpark. The casino project could add up to 1,500 jobs in the Beloit area, casino planners have previously said.
Meanwhile, in Rockford, 20 miles south of Beloit, Hard Rock Cafe An Opening Act has opened and is offering gambling. The facility is a temporary location where gambling will be offered until the permanent Hard Rock Cafe Casino is completed on the site of the former Clocktower Inn off Interstate 39/90. The permanent casino is expected to open in August of 2024.
The Ho-Chunk Nation has six gaming properties in Wisconsin — Black River Falls, Madison, Nekoosha, Tomah, Wisconsin Dells/Baraboo and Wittenberg.
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