News

Local casino set to reopen with new bingo machines

The failure of a proposed Dane County referendum in 2004 that would have allowed Dejope Bingo to expand into a full-scale casino has not stopped the operation from further development.

In an attempt to increase the accessibility and appeal of the business, Dejope is set to reopen next month as a newly updated and renovated bingo operation. Demolition on the gaming establishment began earlier this year.

Beginning last July, bingo games using paper cards and number callers were phased out to make room for new computerized bingo machines. And according to Tracy Littlejohn, a public relations officer for the Ho-Chunk Nation, the change will be beneficial in several ways.

"Not everybody's schedule allows them to make it to a [bingo] session, and I think a lot of younger people may not find it that appealing to sit down at a table and wait for the numbers to be called off," Littlejohn said. "With these new machines, people can come and go as they please."

She said the additions would not only benefit the Ho-Chunk Nation, but the development's patrons as well.

Littlejohn added that Dejope provides an alternate option for people aged 18-20 years old who are not old enough to frequent casinos, but are still looking for a similar experience.

Dejope is also hoping the renovations will create an atmosphere that is more conducive to gaming, she added. Littlejohn noted that the lower ceiling that is being installed — as well as the new floor layout of the bingo machines — will create a more casino-like atmosphere.

But despite all the effort to make its facility more closely resemble a casino, Littlejohn said Dejope has no plans to convert its facility into a full-scale casino.

"For us to go from a Class II facility, which the state defines as only allowing bingo, to a Class III facility, would have to be included in our state gaming compact," Littlejohn said. "We don't have any plans to take such a step in the future."

Even if the Ho-Chunk Nation wanted to expand the Dejope facility into a full-scale casino, she said, it would face too many hurdles.

Jennifer Zilavy, assistant city attorney for Madison, said that although the city has no say in the matter, there are state and county regulations that govern the construction and expansion of casinos, including the types of gaming that can be offered at a given facility.

"I believe there are different rules when it comes to Indian gaming," Zilavy said. "That is a whole other ball of wax altogether."

Yet for the time being, it would appear that Dejope is perfectly content to retain its status as a Class II facility.

"We've had the construction crews working two shifts a day to make sure this gets done," Littlejohn said. "We feel it is going to be an excellent upgrade both in terms of the environment with the structural changes and in terms of the gaming experience we will be able to offer by way of the new bingo machines."