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Kenosha Hard Rock Casino moves forward with environmental review
March 14, 2026
The Hard Rock Casino project in Kenosha, Wisconsin has been talked about for a long time going back to 2013. Over the years, there has no casino and little progress towards approval to report. All of that changed this week when the U.S. Department of Interior (DOI) published a Draft Environmental Assessment of the casino project. This is a major step forward for the Menominee Indian Tribe and indicates the Kenosha casino application has now finally entered into the active-processing stage within the DOI.
[ No Ads ]Kenosha Casino Proposal - Courtesy of WISN 12 News, Mar 13, 2026. Available from YouTube
Draft Environmental Assessment (EA)
So, what is the EA and why is it important? This environment report will soon be online for public review the results of the first full environment impact study of the Kenosha casino project. Soon afterwards the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) within the DOI will schedule a public comment period of 30-60 days. This will be followed by a 3-6-month BIA review and response to the public comments.
Next Steps
After all major environmental issues have been identified and addressed, the BIA will publish a final report titled Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and a final decision will be made as to whether to federally approve the Kenosha casino. If approved, the Wisconsin governor will have up to one year to concur since the casino site lies on off reservation land.
DOI Delays
The first Beloit casino proposal was an $800 million Hard Rock Hotel and Casino that was rejected by Gov. Scott in 2015. A current Hard Rock proposal was announced in 2022. It was a downsized, $360 million plan for a casino, hotel, concert venue, and a Hard Rock Cafe to be built on a 60-acre site west of I-94 at 122nd Ave and 60th St.
That Beloit casino plan has been inside the U.S. Department of Interior (DOI) for the past four years seeking federal review and final approval. That process was expected to be completed before last year, but the DOI has delayed all tribal casino applications nationwide due to critical vacancy in the Under Secretary of Interior position. That position was finally filled last October when the U.S. Senate confirmed the appointment of Under Secretary Billy Kirkland. Since then, the DOI has resumed its screening process for new casino applications, including the Beloit casino application.
Beloit Casino Decision Timeline
The federal publication of a Draft Environmental Assessment of the Kenosha Hard Rock Casino proposal means the project is now in active processing at the DOI. A realistic timeline for a final decision on whether to approve kthe casino is 12-24 months from this point. If there are minimal public objections to the environmental assessment, an optimistic timeline will be 9-12 months. A typical timeline is 12-18 months with the final decision in mid-to-late 2027.
