BELOIT – After a public and celebratory groundbreaking for its $500 million casino project on Oct. 25, the Ho-Chunk Nation has quietly cleared the final regulatory milestone.

Ryan Greendeer, executive government relations officer for the Ho-Chunk Nation, confirmed the completion of a compact agreement with the State of Wisconsin.

"The Ho-Chunk Nation and State of Wisconsin have signed a compact amendment that specifically enumerates Beloit/Rock County as a gaming site," Greendeer stated in an email. "The amendment was submitted to (the U.S. Department of the) Interior for secretarial review. At least 45 days have elapsed since we received confirmation of the submission, so the amendment is approved by operation of law."

Tribal/state gaming compacts set the framework for tribes to operate gaming facilities under state and federal regulations. Wisconsin has such agreements with all 11 federally recognized tribes in the state.

The Ho-Chunk compact for Beloit will eventually be published in the Federal Register, a daily government publication that includes updates on regulations, hearings, and decisions. While Ho-Chunk had a prior compact allowing for another gaming site, Greendeer explained that "Ho-Chunk added an amendment listing Rock County."

However, the Nation began 2024 without an active Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with Beloit and Rock County. The original agreement, signed in 2012, had expired in 2022. In June, both Beloit and Rock County extended the IGA through the end of 2024, but it would have lapsed again on Dec. 31 without the finalized compact.

Meanwhile, construction is in full swing. Miron Construction Co. of Madison began preliminary site work in November and December, establishing a base of operations on the site at the corner of Willowbrook and Colley roads.

Kevin Day, Beloit city councilman and vice president of development for Corporate Contractors Inc. (CCI), said progress on the project will accelerate in 2025.

"You should start seeing steel erection by this spring and the parking structure is going to go up quickly," Day noted.

As the owners' representative, CCI is ensuring the project aligns with Ho-Chunk's expectations while collaborating with Miron Construction. The development includes a parking structure with capacity for 1,500 vehicles.

The ambitious project will unfold in two phases. The casino, set to become Wisconsin’s second largest upon completion, is expected to be finished by June 2026. The second phase, featuring an 18-story, 312-room hotel and a 75,000-square-foot conference center, is slated for completion in 2027.

When finished, the entire development – encompassing the casino, hotel, conference center, and parking structure – will span 1.2 million square feet, making it the largest building project in Beloit’s history. To provide perspective, the combined square footage of all Beloit College buildings equals 1.2 million square feet, while the nearby Amazon distribution center measures 1 million square feet.