BELOIT, WI — More than 200 construction workers a day are laboring this winter to bring a 240,478-square-foot casino to life just 17 miles north of the Hard Rock Casino Rockford.
Ho-Chunk Nation Government Relations Officer Ryan Greendeer said that after two decades of effort, the $705 million project is on track for a September 2026 grand opening at 777 Willowbrook Road in Beloit.
“For some of us, this will be the crowning achievement of their careers,” Greendeer said.
Ho-Chunk Gaming Beloit will offer 1,500 slot machines and 44 table games. There will be three restaurants including a steakhouse, brewhouse and quick service food court. A 90-seat bar and coffee shop is planned. And there will be plenty of parking in a five-level, 1,500-space parking garage.
A 312-room hotel standing 18 stories and 239-feet tall along with a 76,413-square-foot convention center are expected to open in a second phase coming in 2027.
The hotel will tower over the casino and offer views from a rooftop restaurant. The convention center is expected to be capable of hosting everything from trade shows and 2,000-seat concerts to conferences and banquets. Plans are for numerous breakout spaces and plenty of flexible options Beloit has never had before.
The resort is expected to employ about 1,500 people once fully operational.
Fierce competition expected
Ho-Chunk Nation is aiming to dominate the market despite its proximity to Hard Rock Casino Rockford, a 175,000-square-foot resort with a 65,000-square-foot gaming floor, 1,600-seat concert venue, Hard Rock Cafe and Rock Shop.
Hard Rock Rockford has quickly become the No. 3 revenue-producing casino in Illinois.
Hard Rock Rockford offers 1,300 slot machines and 50 table games when live poker is included. It has a high limit room where it offers a Dragon Link slot machine with potential jackpots of more than $1 million.
It has three sit-down restaurants, a large center bar and a food court with pizza, sandwiches, coffee and tacos alongside multiple entertainment venues.
Rockford has the brand
Ho-Chunk has not yet revealed details about what table games it will offer.
Some of those decisions will made in coming weeks as hiring continues, but it will have a high limit area. An open question is whether the casino will offer live poker and baccarat to compete with Rockford’s six-table poker room and Asian table game room.
Ho-Chunk officials have said they believe their gaming experience will prove superior.
But Rockford has the advantage that comes with “the power and dominance of an internationally recognized global brand,” easy access from I-90 and being first to open, said GoRockford CEO John Groh.
But having both casinos operating in close proximity could be good for tourism, Groh said. Competition could bring out the best in both facilities.
“There are net positives,” Groh said. “They will have to market themselves significantly to bring people to Beloit and the region just like Hard Rock is doing. I think there is positives to be gained by an additional significant destination driver, a reason people travel to the state line region.”
‘Shows and T-shirts’
Hard Rock Rockford is plotting an expansion to compete with Beloit. It hopes to open much of it before Ho-Chunk can complete its second phase of construction. Hard Rock’s second phase is expected to include a 250-room hotel.
But it is planning a much larger expansion beyond the hotel and could include a second hotel, attractions and retail.
Ho-Chunk officials said that its casino, hotel and convention center will draw visitors to the Beloit region. And as Hard Rock Rockford looks to ratchet up its game, Ho-Chunk Nation is conducting feasibility studies on further expansion beyond its hotel and convention center.
“Shows and t-shirts seem to be their thing,” Greendeer said. “We have this hotel coming with a bunch of different amenities and eating establishments. It’s just not the same atmosphere, not always the same demographic as what they’re looking at.”
Jeff Kolkey writes about government, economic development and other issues for the Rockford Register Star. He can be reached via email at jkolkey@rrstar.com and on X @jeffkolkey.
This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: How Ho-Chunk Gaming Beloit plans to compete with Hard Rock Rockford
Reporting by Jeff Kolkey, Rockford Register Star / Rockford Register Star
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