Ousted Wisconsin Governor Makes Deal With Tribal CasinoTribe Will Be Able To Reduce Payments To The State With Increased Nearby Competition |
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Wisconsin Gov. Kevin Walker may have been recently voted out of office, but he isn’t going quietly. The Republican was defeated in early November by Democrat candidate Tony Evers, but he doesn’t officially have to give up his seat until Jan. 7.
Despite having one foot out the door, Walker recently reached a deal with the Potawatomi Tribe to reduce the state’s gaming compact liability from $500 million to $250 million, should the tribe’s existing properties suffer any from new casino competition.
Currently, casinos in Wisconsin must be built at least 30 miles from each other. The Potawatomi Hotel and Casino is located in Milwaukee, but the Menominee Tribe, which also operates a casino in Keshena, is looking to build another nearby between 30 and 50 miles away.
The Menominee have wanted a casino in Kenosha for the last two decades, but have failed to get any traction so far. In 2015, Walker rejected an $800 million casino proposal that had already been approved by then-President Barack Obama.
Now, with the state’s liability reduced by half, there’s a chance the project will see the light of day, but only if it is approved by President Trump and incoming Gov. Evers.
Potawatomi Chairman Ned Daniels Jr. signed the agreement last Friday, and the deal must now be approved by the Federal Bureau of Indian Affairs.
There are no commercial casinos in Wisconsin, but there are 22 Native American casinos. Each tribe pays the state an undisclosed sum based on revenue for the right to operate casinos.
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