Ho-Chunk Nation has set 23 October for the opening of Ho-Chunk Gaming Beloit in Wisconsin, bringing a casino project that has been in development since 2012 into operation.
The 24-hour casino will open with 1,300 slot machines alongside blackjack, roulette, craps, baccarat, poker and other table games. The wider development is expected to employ around 1,500 people once construction is completed.
The opening follows a lengthy regulatory process for the Rock County site. The US Department of the Interior issued a positive Secretarial Determination in April 2020, concluding that gaming on the land would benefit Ho-Chunk Nation and would not be detrimental to the surrounding community. Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers concurred with that determination in March 2021.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs subsequently approved the trust acquisition in May 2022. Wisconsin has gaming compacts with all 11 federally recognized tribes in the state, with those agreements establishing the conditions under which Class III gaming can operate.
Ho-Chunk Nation's compact permits a gaming facility in Rock County, alongside facilities in Jackson, Sauk and Wood counties.
The Beloit opening will also increase casino competition around the Wisconsin-Illinois border. Hard Rock Casino Rockford operates approximately 18 miles away and has estimated that the arrival of Ho-Chunk Gaming Beloit could reduce its revenue by as much as 20%.
Hard Rock Casino Rockford plans to add a hotel and convention center targeted for late 2027. The development is expected to include between 200 and 225 rooms and approximately 15,000 square feet of conference space.
Ho-Chunk Gaming Beloit is pursuing its own second phase, with an 18-story hotel containing 312 rooms and a convention center capable of accommodating 2,000 guests scheduled for fall 2027.
Ho-Chunk Nation President, Jon Greendeer, said: "We hold so much history in this area and now we can say we hold an amazing future to share with our friends and partners in the state line region."
Earlier this month, Ho-Chunk Nation's separate legal challenge against Kalshi was moved towards the Seventh Circuit, with the Wisconsin district court certifying questions concerning IGRA and federal commodities law for interlocutory appeal.
Ho-Chunk Gaming Beloit's hotel plans include a rooftop lounge, pool and spa, with the accommodation component scheduled to open around a year after the casino
