“In southeast Wisconsin, the Potawatomi Hotel and Casino already serves this area,” he said in an interview with Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “We don’t need another casino.”
Johnson emphasized the economic contributions of the Potawatomi tribe, noting it provides thousands of jobs in the Milwaukee area and maintains a strong record of community support.
The comments come as the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) conducts a public comment period on a draft environmental assessment of the Kenosha casino proposal. The 30-day comment window closes April 12, after which the agency will review feedback and consult with tribal, state, and local governments before making a final determination.
Menominee officials have welcomed the draft assessment, which found no significant environmental impacts. The report includes a socioeconomic appendix projecting the casino would generate approximately 1,075 permanent jobs and 975 construction jobs over an 18-month period. It also estimates nearly $332 million in annual economic output for Kenosha County and an additional $132 million for the rest of Wisconsin.
Kenosha Mayor David Bogdala expressed support for the development, calling it a major opportunity for regional growth. “This project has been a long time coming for Kenosha, and it’s exciting to see it move closer to reality.”
“The Hard Rock development brings new growth to Kenosha – creating jobs, attracting investment, and strengthening our community – and we are ready for it,” he said. “This is a project that’s good for Kenosha, good for the region, and good for the State of Wisconsin.”
However, critics argue the assessment lacks sufficient depth. Lorri Pickens of Citizens Against Gambling said the report fails to adequately address potential impacts such as traffic, crime, gambling addiction, and economic harm. “The BIA is now reviewing a draft environmental assessment prepared by the Tribe’s own private consultant, rather than by an independent agency — a process that falls well short of the scrutiny warranted for a project of this scale.”
BIA spokesperson Joshua Barnett defended the process, stating the assessment was conducted under the agency’s supervision and meets required standards.
Opposition to the project has been consistent from the Forest County Potawatomi Community, which argues the Kenosha casino would divert revenue from its Milwaukee operations.
Tribal officials also contend that profits could flow out of state as the Menominee Nation’s development partner, Hard Rock Casino, is owned by the Seminole Tribe of Florida.
The Ho-Chunk Nation has also opposed the project in the past. The tribe currently operates six casinos in Wisconsin—in Wittenberg, Nekoosa, Black River Falls, Tomah, Wisconsin Dells, and Madison—and plans to open a seventh in Beloit this fall.
Meanwhile, the Oneida Nation and the Stockbridge-Munsee Mohican Nation have expressed support, citing the potential for the casino to address economic challenges faced by the Menominee Reservation, including poverty, unemployment, and limited access to healthcare and education.
Dingnews.com 06/04/2026