A Menominee Nation gaming official met with some state lawmakers in Madison on Wednesday, a day after the tribe and Walker administration announced a new gaming compact.
Menominee Gaming Authority Chairman Gary Besaw is hoping the agreement will convince Gov. Scott Walker to approve tribal plans for a casino in Kenosha. Besaw said the Menominee would cover any loss of revenue payments from Madison and Milwaukee casinos run by the Ho-Chunk or Forest County Potawatomi tribes.
“If those two did not make their payment, the state would still be in a better position with Kenosha brought on board, because there would be as much or more revenue coming to the state,” said Besaw.
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But both the Potawatomi and state Department of Administration say the risk to the state in terms of lost revenue or having to compensate the other tribes has not been eliminated. The governor has about a month to decide on the Menominee’s proposal to partner with the Florida Seminole tribe on a proposed casino and entertainment complex at the site of the former Kenosha dog track.
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