The Ho-Chunk Nation is set to break ground on its long-awaited casino in Beloit on October 25, city officials confirmed. The $405 million project will be constructed at the southeast corner of Willowbrook and Colley Roads, strategically located between Willowbrook Road and Interstate 39-90.
The sprawling 240,478-square-foot casino complex will feature a 62-seat bar, four restaurants with outdoor seating, and a 76,413-square-foot conference center. The development will also include a 312-room hotel with a lobby bar, rooftop bar, and spa, which will be built in phases following the casino’s initial opening. A parking structure is also planned.
The gaming facilities will offer between 1,500 and 1,800 gaming machines, alongside 44 tables featuring popular games like blackjack and roulette. Sports betting will be available through a partnership between the Ho-Chunk Nation and the State of Wisconsin.
The project was greenlit by the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs in 2020, with final approval coming from Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers in 2021. Once completed, the casino is expected to create 1,500 jobs in Beloit.
To support the project, Beloit will receive $13 million in federal funding for road and infrastructure improvements around the site. Plans include adding bike and pedestrian lanes along Willowbrook and Colley Roads, along with new traffic lights and intersection upgrades.
The Beloit casino is located just 19 miles north of Rockford’s Hard Rock Casino along Interstate 90.
