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Governor Still Mulling Casino Decision

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Gov. Scott Walker is questioning whether the opening of a new casino in Kenosha would meet his requirement that there be no new net gambling in Wisconsin.

The Menomonie Nation and Hard Rock officials want to develop an $800 million casino complex at the former Dairyland Greyhound Park.

The tribe argues there would be no increase in gaming because it plans to close a small casino on reservation land and the new one would be located at Dairyland, a former gambling facility.

Walker emphasizes in a statement Friday that the new casino is projected to generate about $450 million per year and have more than 3,000 slot machines.  Dairyland made $20 million per year at its peak and the reservation casino has only 30 slot machines.

The governor questions whether the two smaller operations actually offset the increase in gambling in the much larger proposed casino.

Walker is expected to make a decision next week.

Marti was a reporter with WUWM from 1999 to 2021.