Last night the City Council approved a referendum to allow the Madison community to vote on the expansion of the Dejope Bingo Hall.

The expansion would give the Ho-Chunk Nation the right to expand the Dejope Bingo Hall into a full-fledged Class III casino. If the Dane County Board approves the referendum next Monday it will then be voted on by citizens Feb. 17, concurrent with the presidential primaries.

Many have stressed concern over the introduction of a large gaming casino in southeast Madison. Some local restaurant and bar owners stressed during the City Council meeting that the idea of a large gaming casino could impose an economic threat on their businesses.

One restaurant and bar owner stated that when he looks at prospects of a large-scale gambling casino he looks at it the way a small town looks at the introduction of a Wal-Mart.

On Monday, Mayor Cieslewicz and Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk reached an agreement with the Ho-Chunk Nation for the city of Madison and Dane County to each receive $45 million in the event the casino expansion is approved.

Cieslewicz said that if the referendum passes in the Dane County Board he will vote against it, regardless of the revenue it could generate for the city.

Despite prospects that Madison businesses will be negatively affected, Ho-Chunk Nation member and Madison resident Marlys Whiteagle said she supports not only the referendum, but also its effects on the city of Madison.

“I’m in support of casino gambling in Dejope… the city has a right to referendum,” Whiteagle told the City Council.

Whiteagle said she supports the referendum because in Madison, “there is an option for businesses to expand. Our business should be treated as a [Madison] business.”

Under Governor Doyle’s agreement with seven Native American tribes last April, a business the size of a Ho-Chunk casino will bring considerable revenue back to the state.

“The minimum amount [Madison] would receive from now to 2016 would be $91 million,” said Ken Artist, attorney for the Ho-Chunk Legislature.

Artist said he agrees that the proposed casino plan is well thought out and will increase revenue for all bars and restaurants in the Madison area as well as encourage the sharing of revenues. After all, both the city of Madison and Dane County have the possibility of taking in $45 million each year.

According to the City Council, there are three options regarding the outcome of the Dejope Bingo Hall expansion.
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If the Dane County Board does not authorize a referendum regarding the bingo hall expansion by Dec. 1, then Governor Doyle can authorize construction of the casino “in the public interest.”
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If the Dane County Board passes the referendum it will then either pass or fail according to the public vote.
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If the public votes for the expansion of the bingo hall it will be assumed that Gov. Doyle will allow for the construction of the facility.

However, if the referendum fails it will make its way back to the City Council where problematic issues will be revisited and open for public discussion.

Whiteagle stressed the importance of the casino in Madison, saying, “This is our legacy as well as everyone’s.”