FORT HALL — Tribal members discussed the next phase of construction at the Shoshone-Bannock Casino during the tribe’s annual meeting last week.
Randy L’ Teton, spokeswoman for the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, said the casino will be built onto the hotel and events center, with plans to include a bar.
The current casino will become a bingo hall.
The Fort Hall Indian reservation is a dry reservation, but in 2012 tribal members approved the sale of beer and wine at the Shoshone-Bannock Hotel and Events Center.
Tribal voters will decide during general elections set for May 29 whether or not liquor will be sold at the new casino.
The estimated cost of the casino expansion is $35.2 million. The Tribes’ current loan of $21.8 million, which financed the hotel, will be refinanced with a new balance of $57 million.
The Tribes are in the process of closing the loan with Wells Fargo and the money will be repaid through the gaming revenue distribution plan.
Teton said the tribes are also collecting input from tribal members on the interior design of the new casino.
“We always want our facilities to reflect our tribal history and cultural heritage,” Teton said.
Members of the Shoshone-Bannock tribes are encouraged to complete the survey at surveymonkey.com/s/2015Tribal
HeritageSurvey.
If the Fort Hall Business Council approves the final contract, groundbreaking for the new casino will take place in mid-August.