"The facility proposed for Beloit by the Ho-Chunk Nation clearly would benefit this community and region. Tens of millions of dollars would be spent building the site, providing employment for hundreds of skilled tradesmen and driving business for many local vendors. The tribe projects the facility would create more than 1,000 permanent jobs and more would come via spin-off development. The complex would add millions annually to the area payroll, in addition to paying substantial sums to local government in lieu of property taxes.

Beloit’s unique location on the state line likely would have less impact on other Wisconsin casinos, because the site could be expected to draw substantially from the Illinois market. And think about this. The Ho-Chunk organization already operates several other casinos across the state. They know what they’re doing. Would they be eager to open a Beloit casino if the net impact would be harmful to their other operations?

There’s risk in any enterprise. Actual results cannot be measured until a plan goes into effect. That’s true of casinos. It’s true of every start-up business opened any day in any city across this free land."

Get the Story:
Editorial: More of same gaming noise (The Beloit Daily News 10/4)

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Report shows Wisconsin tribal casinos took in $1.3B last year (9/27)
Ho-Chunk Nation still waiting for BIA on off-reservation casino (8/29)