Eileen plays slots on Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, during the grand opening of Ho-Chunk Gaming Beloit. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
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BELOIT, Wis. — Ho-Chunk Gaming Beloit celebrated the grand opening on Friday of its new $705 million, 240,000-square-foot casino.
The grand opening festivities included tribal ceremonies that paid honor to the Ho-Chunk Nation’s heritage. Inside the casino, there was live music on the Live Wire Lounge center bar stage as guests were welcomed among the 1,300 slot machines, 33 table games and multiple restaurants.
The second phase of the project features a 312-room hotel and 2,000-seat conference center. That’s on track to be completed by late fall 2027.
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Here’s a look at grand opening festivities and the inside during a private, pre-opening event:
Ho-Chunk Nation President Jon Greendeer and others react to a joke on Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, during grand opening ceremonies for Ho-Chunk Gaming Beloit. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)David Bean, chairman of the Indian Gaming Association board, speaks Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, at a grand opening ceremony for Ho-Chunk Gaming Beloit. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)Melody Best sings on Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, on the Live Wire Lounge stage during grand opening festivities for Ho-Chunk Gaming Beloit. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)Poker tables on Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, before the first official guests are let into Ho-Chunk Gaming Beloit. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)Dancers perform the women’s swan dance on Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, during grand opening ceremonies for Ho-Chunk Gaming Beloit. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)Ho-Chunk Nation President Jon Greendeer raises scissors into the air on Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, after cutting the ribbon on Ho-Chunk Gaming Beloit. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)Construction of an 18-floor hotel continues on Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, at Ho-Chunk Gaming Beloit. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)JoAnn Jones, past president of the Ho-Chunk Nation, and David Bean, chairman of the Indian Gaming Association board, cut a piece of the ribbon on Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, to celebrate the opening of Ho-Chunk Gaming Beloit. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)Guests walk in to Ho-Chunk Gaming Beloit on Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, during a grand opening celebration. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)Dancers perform on Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, during grand opening festivities for Ho-Chunk Gaming Beloit. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)Live Wire Lounge on Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, at Ho-Chunk Gaming Beloit. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)The gaming floor at Ho-Chunk Gaming Beloit before its opening on Friday, Oct. 23, 2026. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)The gaming floor leading up to Live Wire Lounge on Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, at Ho-Chunk Gaming Beloit. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)Employees walk through the grand opening entryway on Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, at Ho-Chunk Gaming Beloit. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)People gather for grand opening festivities on Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, at Ho-Chunk Gaming Beloit. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)Drummers perform on Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, during the grand opening ceremony for Ho-Chunk Gaming Beloit. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)Ho-Chunk Nation dancers enter the grand opening celebration on Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, at Ho-Chunk Gaming Beloit. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)Chief Clayton Winneshiek makes remarks on Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, during the grand opening for Ho-Chunk Gaming Beloit. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)Chief Clayton Winneshiek displays part of the ribbon on Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, during the ribbon-cutting ceremony for Ho-Chunk Gaming Beloit. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)Draft Picks Pub House on Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, at Ho-Chunk Gaming Beloit. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)The Melody Best Band performs on Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, as the first guests begin to enter Ho-Chunk Gaming Beloit. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)Lambert Cleveland, Jr., vice president of the Ho-Chunk Nation, makes remarks on Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, at the grand opening for Ho-Chunk Gaming Beloit. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)Dancers enter Ho-Chunk Gaming Beloit on Friday, Oct. 23, 2026. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)Melody Best sings on Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, on the Live Wire Lounge stage during grand opening festivities for Ho-Chunk Gaming Beloit. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)The view from the second floor of Draft Picks Pub House on Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, at Ho-Chunk Gaming Beloit. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)Roulette tables on Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, at Ho-Chunk Gaming Beloit. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)Melody Best sings on Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, on the Live Wire Lounge stage during grand opening festivities for Ho-Chunk Gaming Beloit. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)Businesswoman Diane Hendricks reacts to a joke from a friend on Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, during the grand opening of the Ho-Chunk Gaming Beloit casino. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)Ho-Chunk Gaming Beloit staff wait for the first guests on Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, at the new casino. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)Dancers perform the women’s swan dance on Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, during grand opening ceremonies for Ho-Chunk Gaming Beloit. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)The main entryway on Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, to Ho-Chunk Gaming Beloit. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)Dancers perform the women’s swan dance on Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, during grand opening ceremonies for Ho-Chunk Gaming Beloit. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
