Feds Deny Application 01-13-09 New!
Denial Letter 01-13-09 New!
Congresswoman Baldwin Response New!
Opposition to BIA Guidance memo
- Chairperson Hindsley's written
testimony to the Committee
2-27-08
- Professor Washburn Testimony
2-27-08
Lawsuit Filed 12-07-07
- Lawsuit Text
Part 1 (PDF)
Part 2 (PDF)
Court Apperance 12-12-07
- Hearing Transcript 12-12-07
Lawsuit Ammended 01-10-08
Reply Brief 01-29-08
(includes BIA Indian Gaming Paper)
Feds Dismiss Complaint 06-28-07
- C Artman Letter to Ho-Chunk 06-26-07
Regional Approval 12-04-06
Notice of Intent 04-27-04
Front Row: Chairman Eugene Bigboy - Bad River Tribe, BIA Regional Director Terrance Virdin, Chairman David Merrill - St. Croix Tribe
Back Row: Council Member Myron Burns Sr. - Bad River Tribe, Vice Chairman Lewis Taylor - St. Croix Tribe, Sec/Treasurer Leo Butler - St. Croix Tribe, Council Member Gloria Benjamin - St. Croix Tribe, Council Member Hazel Hindsley - St. Croix Tribe (January 2007)
Welcome to the home page of the Beloit Casino Project, your source of information on the pending trust land application of the Bad River and St. Croix Chippewa Tribes for a casino resort to be located in Beloit, Wisconsin.
Invited to Beloit
In 1999 officials from the southeastern city of Beloit, Wisconsin approached the Bad River Chippewa Indians for the purpose of
creating the Beloit casino.
Landslide Victory
In November of 2000, Beloit voters approved the casino project with a 61% majority. Nearly 75% of all registered voters
participated in the landslide victory.
Agreements Signed
In 2001, The Bad River and the St. Croix Tribes formally entered into an Intergovernmental Agreement with the city of Beloit.
Each succeeding Beloit City Council since 2001, has unanimously endorsed the terms of the Agreement. Rock County, Wisconsin is
also a participant in the deal.
More than just a casino
When complete the Beloit Casino Project will include a casino, convention center, hotel, multiple restaurants, theater, day care
facility and a year round water park.
Jobs, Jobs and MORE Jobs
An estimated 1500 workers, most of them from the local building trades, will be required to construct the Beloit Casino Project.
When complete 3,000 workers will be needed to keep the project running - competitively waged permanent jobs and benefits.
Regional Impact
A full Environmental Impact Study (EIS) has been completed to insure that this project will work - not only for the Bad River and
St. Croix Tribes, but for Beloit, Rock County and the entire Stateline Area. The full EIS can be accessed by clicking on the
STUDIES icon.
Approval by the Bureau of Indian Affairs
In January of 2007, Terry Virdin, the Regional Director of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), signed off on the Beloit Casino
Project Trust Land Application, and sent it to the Central Offices of the BIA in Washington D.C. with an endorsement for approval.
Held Up In Washington DC.
Officials at the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Washington D.C are currently completing a formal administrative review of the Beloit
Casino Project Trust Land Application. In order for the project to move forward, an approval must be received from the Secretary
of the Department of Interior.
The final step in the approval process is that of the Governor of the State of Wisconsin.
Lawsuit Filed
The St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin filed a COMPLAINT FOR DECLATORY AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF today in the United States
District Court for the District of Columbia. The Complaint concerns the Tribe’s Beloit, Wisconsin Trust Land Application with
the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and asks the Court to prevent specified procedural changes by the Bureau of Indian
Affairs in the trust land approval process as specified by the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA Section 2719(b)(1)(A).
Click here to read the full release.
Feds Send Denial, Fight Continues
Less than one week before the end of the Bush Administration the Secretary of Interior, using criteria that his offices created in
January 2007, authorized a formal denial of the Beloit Casino Project Trust Land Application. The Tribes legal challenges to the
Secretary are continuing. A political remedy with the New Administration is being sought.