KENOSHA, Wis. — A newly announced expansion project tied to the Seminole Tribe’s Hard Rock operation in Rockford is raising fresh questions about the long-term economic viability of the proposed Kenosha casino and whether environmental reviews tied to the Wisconsin project are now outdated, according to a local anti-gambling group.
Citizens Against Expanded Gambling issued a statement Wednesday criticizing the planned Rockford hotel and convention center expansion, arguing that the Illinois development directly overlaps with many of the same tourism and entertainment markets that supporters of the Kenosha casino proposal have relied upon in their projections.
“The Kenosha proposal was presented as a unique economic opportunity for southeastern Wisconsin,” said Lorri Pickens, spokesperson for Citizens Against Expanded Gambling. “However, the Rockford development includes many of the same features and target markets, creating significant doubt about whether the Kenosha project can deliver the jobs, tourism, and revenue projections used to justify the application.”
The organization also argued that the environmental assessment connected to the Kenosha proposal may no longer accurately reflect the regional market landscape because it did not account for a competing Seminole-backed development in nearby Rockford.
According to the group, the emergence of another large-scale casino-related attraction in northern Illinois should trigger a new review process before state, federal, or local officials move forward with additional approvals connected to the Kenosha proposal.
The proposed Kenosha casino has been the subject of political and economic debate for years, with supporters arguing it would bring jobs, tourism, and tax revenue to southeastern Wisconsin. Opponents, however, have repeatedly questioned whether the market can sustain another major gaming destination so close to existing operations in Illinois and Milwaukee.
The Rockford expansion announcement appears likely to intensify those concerns as officials continue evaluating the future of the Kenosha project.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
12 Responses
It’s going to happen here. Get over it.
It’s a stupid project. Too much good happening in Kenosha. Why not speak up and stop it?
The market has drastically changed since 2023 when they conned the city and county. There is no way the tribe’s projections in 2023 remain the same today.
Since 2024, Beloit’s Ho-Chunk is building a $700+ million casino (about an hour away)
Since 2025, Waukegan’s American Place is spending over $375 million on a casino (20 min away)
And this week, the City of Rockford is now placing a $100+ million bet by giving Hard Rock a massive loan – really? Why the loan if a casino is such a sure bet? (about an hour away)
Dairyland 2.0…..here we come…..unless we speak up and tell our government, NO THANK YOU!
The Kenosha casino project is a wolf in sheep’s clothing…..let’s stop it before we are eaten alive.
Show me one community within a 100 miles of Kenosha that has a casino where you want to live next to it? Crime, drugs, trafficking, bankruptcy, drop in property values….the negatives go on and on. Can’t get over it.
yup, it is coming
When will Kenosha turn out like Primm, Nevada?
https://www.foxnews.com/travel/casino-resorts-nevada-location-once-packed-become-ghost-town-closure-nears
Full disclosure.
I’m against this Casino. There is enough gambling opportunities within an hours drive including this one to satisfy most any gambler’s desire and addictions. Heck I know locals here that can win and lose $500 or more in a single sitting ay any local restaurant or bar that has just five machines.
Including gas stations !!!
In just a few hours stone sober without alcohol !!
Additionally the cost of society’s ills on the taxpayers such as domestic violence, loss of money and savings and the results of a breadwinner loosing a week’s pay in just a few hours of gambling which then affects the whole household the gambler lives in.
Then the fact that the promise of stipends the casino will pay in lieu of not having to pay property taxes is never enough to offset the above mentioned ills it will create. Studies have been done on this and bear it out.
No thanks
How many times have Kenoshans voted against a casino in Kenosha?! We don’t want it! It will bring more crime and lots of traffic that we don’t need! Remember the dog track that was supposed to be so good for us? Well it lasted 10 years or so and is no longer here!
Dog track is completely different story. Has nothing to do with gambling….it’s the woke era and everyone said it was degrading to dogs so dog tracks are basically done in this country.
This is the last thing Kenosha needs as it will add to the crime, poverty, drug use, alcoholism, and homelessness here. Gambling is an addictive, no-win situation for the public and only causes more trouble than it is worth.
The casino, if approved by the Bureau of Land Management and whoever is governor of WI at the time, is going to happen. The time for the County or City of Kenosha to stop it is long past. I’m personally not in favor of it for a variety of reasons and hope that other layers of government keep it from happening.
The IGA gives the County & City the right to terminate it since it was not approved by December 31st. Bring it back for a vote and send this packing – the smart money is that this is a dumb idea.
I think it’s going to be as big of a success as the Dairyland Greyhound Park.
Potawatomi got shafted if this goes through