On Wednesday, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers gave approval for the Ho-Chunk Nation to build a $405 million casino in Beloit. Clearing one of the Wisconsin tribe’s major hurdles for the long-sought project.

 

The complex just west of Interstate 39/90 would feature a casino with 300-room hotel and 40,000 Sq. foot indoor water park on 73 acres. According to the tribe and government officials. It would create 1,500 permanent jobs and 2,000 construction jobs.

“As we work to bounce back from this pandemic. We must do everything we can to support economic development in communities across our state,” Evers said in a statement.

The casino would be one of the largest in the state and would sit on Wisconsin’s border with Illinois. Allowing it to easily draw out-of-state visitors. But the casino could cut into business at some of the tribe’s existing gambling facilities. Including ones in Madison and near Wisconsin Dells.

Despite the Governor’s approval of the plan for Wisconsin organizations are trying to prevent a casino from being built in Beloit.

Citizens Expanded Gambling and Wisconsin Family. Action have been urging Governor Tony Evers to say “no” to the casino over the last year.

They argue there are too many casinos in Wisconsin. It wouldn’t ultimately benefit the area economically.

“We have 25 casinos in the state and so our casino market is more than saturated. And what tends to happen in a rural area is much different than what happens in an urban setting,” said Lorri Pickens of Citizens Against Expanded Gambling.