In recent weeks, controversy has surrounded the Ho-Chunk Nation and their proposal to transform the DeJope bingo hall into a casino.
According to Lisa Pugh, a spokesperson for the Coalition for the Fair Indian Gaming and Revenue and Sharing Agreements, the Ho-Chunk Nation is in negotiations with the city and county officials. In exchange for the casino, the Nation would pay the city $46 million and the county $45 million, in the next 13 years.
“We have lots of people behind us,” Pugh said, adding their support group is broad and diverse. “We have gotten an excellent response from the community.”
However, many fear the negative effects of a casino will overshadow the money being offered. David Relles, spokesperson for the No Dane Casino, said the community might not realize all the effects a casino may bring.
William N. Thompson, a professor at University of Nevada-Las Vegas who is an expert in the field of gambling was hired by a group of Madison individuals to conduct a study on the effects of a casino in Madison.
The results of Thompson’s study claim visitors of the casino will mostly be Dane County residents. He estimated while the casino will bring about $52 million to the community, approximately $85 million will leave Dane County, leaving the community with an economic loss.
Thompson also warned of the social costs of a casino. He said students and the elderly are vulnerable audiences when it comes to gambling. He added the casino would likely produce an additional 3,000 problem gamblers.
Relles said after similar studies were conducted in Omaha and San Antonio, those communities rejected casino proposals.
According to Pugh, the Ho-Chunk Nation will be spending as much as $140,000 on television commercials until the Feb. 17 referendum when the public will vote on the fate of the bingo hall.
The Nation has plenty of money to campaign for the casino, which worries Relles. He fears efforts against the casino will fall short because of a lack of funds. Relles said his campaign has purchased billboards featuring the campaign’s slogan “CasiNO”, and will also be distributing buttons and pamphlets, which will warn the public about the negative impact of a casino in Madison. He said they have received support from the community but not nearly enough.
Bob D’Angelo, president of the Overture Center, has plans to distribute a letter to the community about the effects the casino may have on Madison.
The highlight of D’Angelo’s letter warns the community that the future of theaters like the Overture Center will be in danger if the casino is approved. The Ho-Chunk Nation has reserved the right to build a venue containing as many as 3,000 seats, which may potentially take away business from other Madison sites. The Ho-Chunk Nation said they have no plans to build such a venue in the next 24 months, but refuse to give up the right to do so.
“We have to give the Ho-Chunk Nation credit,” Pugh said. “They do not have to negotiate or share their revenues,” she, adding the Ho-Chunk Nation would like to help the community, especially in the midst of the statewide budget crisis.
“If the vote were held today, we might not win,” D’Angelo said. “But it isn’t. We still have time to do this.”
The vote will be held Feb. 17, on the same ballot as the presidential primaries.
