Kenosha County Board Greenlights Hard Rock Casino Proposal in Tight Vote

The Hard Rock Casino project was only narrowly approved by the Kenosha County Board of Supervisors on Wednesday, January 17, at a late-night meeting that ended with a vote shortly after 1:30 a.m., 10 to 9.

The authorized casino will be situated on a plot of property now used for agriculture on County Highway K off I-94. The land will continue to be owned by the city of Kenosha, which is run by the Menominee Tribe.

Earlier past month, the Menominee Tribe unveiled a comprehensive casino plan. It included 1,500 slot machines, around 50 table games, restaurants, bars, and other facilities. The grand concept is for the construction of a 150-room Hard Rock Hotel, a Hard Rock Cafe, and a 2,000-seat Hard Rock Live arena.

Economic Impact and Job Creation

The estimated cost of the casino project stands at a substantial $360 million, with expectations to generate nearly 1,000 construction jobs over an 18-month period. Once operational, the casino anticipates employing around 1,000 individuals with an average full-time salary of approximately $54,000.

Projections suggest the casino will draw over 2.4 million annual visits, with a significant portion—nearly 1.6 million—coming from out-of-state visitors. The economic impact is estimated at $352 million for Kenosha County and a remarkable $492 million for the state.

Despite being exempt from local property taxes, the casino site will contribute to the city of Kenosha through payments based on gaming revenue. The approved agreement includes an annual payment of $750,000 to local public schools if net profits exceed $2 million. Additionally, from the third year onward, $500,000 annually will be allocated to the city’s public museums and support a home acquisition program.

The contract specifies a one-million dollar dedicated fund for advanced life support vehicles and a six-year, yearly payment of $500,000 to finance the building of a new facility. In close proximity to the casino complex, this building will function as a public works office, fire department, and police station.

This is a major change in the course of events for the Kenosha casino project, which was put on hold for ten years after being rejected by then-Governor Scott Walker nine years ago. The idea of a thriving entertainment center has now advanced significantly with a new permission.