"A Rockford casino would also be a pre-emptive strike against the proposed casino just across the state line in Beloit, Wis. The plans for the complex — 15 miles from downtown Rockford — are moving along. If Rockford doesn’t get into the game soon, Beloit will gobble up all the potential gambling revenue.

The Ho-Chunk Nation’s Beloit plan is more concrete and more extensive than anything Rockford has talked about. The Ho-Chunk envision a conference center, hotels and places to shop.

The Bad River and St. Croix Chippewa bands of northern Wisconsin originally proposed the Beloit casino, but now that the Ho-Chunk Nation is involved, the prospects have improved. The tribe still must win federal approval.

It’s unlikely that two casinos could exist successfully so close to each other, so whoever builds first will have the better hand to play."

Get the Story:
Our View: Hold your nose, governor, and sign gambling bill (The Rockford Register Star 6/5)

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Ho-Chunk Nation submitted off-reservation gaming application (5/29)