Milwaukee’s Gaming Destination
Over 30-plus years, Potawatomi Casino Hotel has become an iconic entertainment destination in Wisconsin.
In 1990, Milwaukee’s Menomonee Valley was a wasteland. The stretch south of Downtown Milwaukee was desolate, full of toxic brownfields blighted from years of industry. But that same year, the Forest County Potawatomi, whose history in Wisconsin stretches back thousands of years, regained seven acres of land in the valley. The tribe quickly went to work cleaning up the area.
Only one year later, on March 7, 1991, the tribe opened what was then called Potawatomi Bingo, the first off-reservation casino in the United States. The new casino was packed to capacity for its opening –it was a little over 45,000 square feet, with a 2,500-seat bingo hall. It was just the beginning for the fledgling entertainment venue.
The Potawatomi Casino Hotel of today has come a long way from that first opening. It now boasts over 10 times the entertainment space of its original bingo hall – 500,000 square feet of restaurants, concert venues, table games, slot machines, a sportsbook and much more. It’s become one of Milwaukee’s iconic venues, and a cornerstone of the revitalized Menomonee Valley, which is now a hotspot of business and development.
“This is a 34-year venture that comes from a small bingo hall and now here we are, continuing to build for the future. We’re building for the future of gaming, sports, music, entertainment, our city, and most
importantly, building for the future of the Forest County Potawatomi Community and tribe,” says Dominic Ortiz, the CEO and general manager of Potawatomi Casino Hotel.
“That’s why we do what we do. And along the way, we’re bringing some epic and awesome assets to our guests.”
Over the past three decades, the entertainment venue has undergone multiple renovations to become what it is today. In 2000, the first major expansion added 250,000 square feet, with slot machines, table games and more. Eight years later, another expansion invested $240 million, adding a food court, restaurants, center bar and banquet space. And in 2014, the casino welcomed the first guests to its new 381-room hotel.
The last four years have seen even more growth, with Potawatomi putting $190 million toward further improvement. That’s included new restaurants, a dining hall, a luxury lounge for VIP members, and a renovated secondfloor gaming area with new table games and slots. The effort was capped last year with the opening of Potawatomi Sportsbook and newly renovated Poker Room.
The two-floor Sportsbook is now the largest sports betting venue in the Midwest, featuring over 200 seats, 20 televisions and 90 kiosks, and a 2,000-square-foot LED video wall which can broadcast over 30 different sporting events at once. And it is also home to The Kitchen, which has 48 beers on tap, 14 specialty cocktails, and serves all-day brunch, wings, desserts and more.
“Potawatomi Casino Hotel is already the No. 1 travel destination in the state, and we believe that the Sportsbook and Poker Room will become an attraction to those who live well beyond the state line, bringing in more tourism revenue to the state of Wisconsin,” says James Crawford, the chairman of the Forest County Potawatomi Community Tribal Council.
As the venue expands its space, it’s also expanding its entertainment
offerings. Last year, Potawatomi hosted the first Potawatomi Amplified Concert Series in its outdoor venue. The series included performances by Snoop Dogg, Third Eye Blind, and a two-day Tejano Fest.
And in the years ahead, Potawatomi plans to continue to grow and maintain the standard of excellence in entertainment it has set for decades here in Milwaukee.
“It is our priority to bring our guests the next level of gaming, and do so in an inviting and entertaining atmosphere,” says Ortiz. “Milwaukee has been receiving so much exciting attention, and we want to make sure we are viewed as a premier entertainment destination, not just for those in the immediate area, but for people traveling to the city for business or a getaway.”
Potawatomi Casino Hotel
1721 W. Canal St. 800-847-7400
paysbig.com
“ It is our priority to bring our guests the next level of gaming. ”
DOMINIC ORTIZ CEO, POTAWATOMI CASINO HOTEL