DEKALB, Ill. (AP) — DeKalb County and the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation are moving forward with plans for the tribe to open a 24-hour electronic bingo operation.
The county’s Economic Development Committee on Tuesday voted to send the full DeKalb County Board a resolution supporting efforts to have federal officials hold 129 of the tribe’s land in trust to build the bingo hall in the town of Shabbona. The tribe’s chairwoman says the land trust isn’t a requirement but having it would help mitigate any future issues.
The (DeKalb) Daily Chronicle reports that tribal leaders estimate the bingo hall would create 400 new jobs. They expect it to attract 930,000 visitors each year and contribute $12 million to the local economy.
The county board is expected to vote on the resolution Aug. 19.