gambling

Tribe appeals injunction blocking Lansing casino project

Steve Carmody — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 20:20:06 +0000

Backers of a proposed casino in downtown Lansing are asking a federal appeals court to toss out a legal ruling that threatens to bring their plans to a halt.

Last month a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction blocking the Sault Ste Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians’ plans to build a $245 million casino in downtown Lansing.

Michigan’s attorney general sought the injunction claiming the tribe’s plans violated federal law and a state gambling compact.

Native American casinos in Michigan testing the water for online gambling

The Associated Press — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 13:59:38 +0000

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. (AP) - The Soaring Eagle Casino is planning a new website that won't take bets for money unless Congress changes restrictions on online gambling.

The casino's marketing director Raul Venegas tells the Morning Sun of Mount Pleasant that the website will be for marketing and fun.

Venegas says the casino has "no intentions to offer real money gaming online, but people can play for free."

Deadline ahead for Lansing casino project

Steve Carmody — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 11:22:55 +0000

A deadline is looming for a proposed downtown Lansing casino.

The proposed $245 million casino project involves a complicated business and land deal between the city of Lansing, private developers and an indian tribe from the Upper Peninsula.

So complicated those involved were not able to reach an agreement on the various aspects of the project by an August deadline. So they gave themselves an extension until November 1^st.

But with two weeks before the extended deadline there’s still no final agreement.

Michigan's Attorney General files suit to block proposed Lansing casino

Steve Carmody — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 01:18:56 +0000

Michigan’s Attorney General has filed a lawsuit to block plans for a casino in Lansing.

The Sault Sainte Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians announced plans in January to build a $245 million casino next to Lansing’s convention center.

Attorney General Bill Schuette claims the casino project violates federal law and a gaming compact with the state.

Lansing casino project misses self-imposed deadline

Steve Carmody — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 20:41:13 +0000

Plans for a casino in downtown Lansing are taking longer to pull together than developers had originally planned.

Lansing casino plan critic wins tribal chairmanship election

Steve Carmody — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 14:35:40 +0000

A critic of part of the plan to build a casino in downtown Lansing has just been elected to lead one of the groups involved in the project.

Tribe votes in favor of Lansing casino project

Steve Carmody — Fri, 04 May 2012 01:36:27 +0000

A majority of Sault Ste Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians members have voted in favor of their tribe building a casino in downtown Lansing.

The vote clears the way for what is sure to be bigger challenges to the casino project.

Tribal leaders had predicted the outcome of the referendum from the start. The voting started last month when the tribe mailed ballots to more than 14 thousand tribal members.

In the end, more than 39 hundred Sault Ste Marie tribe members voted in favor of the Lansing casino project. 23 hundred members voted against it.

Roger Martin is the tribe’s spokesman. He says the next phase of the project will involve paperwork.

“The hope is the have the land purchase completed and the application to take the land into trust by the Department of the Interior by Summer,” says Martin.

The federal government must agree to take the land into trust for the tribe so it can be used for gaming.

Other tribes that operate casinos near Lansing, as well as Governor Snyder, oppose a casino in the capital city. Legal challenges to the project are expected.

Lansing mayor Virg Bernero issued a statement thanking the tribe for its affirmative vote.

"I am more convinced than ever that this is the right project at the right time with the right partners. The Lansing Kewadin casino will create thousands of good jobs, fully-fund college scholarships for Lansing public school children, and generate hundreds of millions in new economic activity for the Lansing region." Bernero said in his statement."

Tribal vote on Lansing casino project nearing an end

Steve Carmody — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 20:01:01 +0000

Voting wraps up this week in a referendum that may decide if plans for a casino in downtown Lansing can move forward.

Ballots were mailed to 14 thousand members of the Sault Ste Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians earlier this month.

The basic question is should the tribe move ahead with plans to build a $245 million casino adjacent to Lansing’s downtown convention center.

Tribe members start voting this week on a proposed casino in Lansing

Steve Carmody — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 19:39:01 +0000

Ballots are being mailed this week to more than 14 thousand members of the Sault Ste Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians. The vote may decide if the tribe will go ahead with plans to build a casino in downtown Lansing.

The proposed casino is controversial, not just among those who generally oppose any effort to expand gambling in Michigan, but also among some Sault Ste Marie tribe members.

The tribe already operates five casinos in the Upper Peninsula. But some tribe members don’t like the way revenue from a Lansing casino would be divided.

Commentary: More Casinos in Michigan?

Jack Lessenberry — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 14:53:49 +0000

Last summer I went to Traverse City to speak to the state association of property law lawyers. To paraphrase Abraham Lincoln, they will probably little note nor long remember what I said there.

Bill aims to free up "Texas Hold 'em" games for Michigan's seniors

Mark Brush — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 16:03:29 +0000

It all started in Romeo.

According to the House Fiscal Agency, members of the Romeo Senior Center held weekly Texas Hold 'em poker games.

Five bucks got you a seat at the table and you played until your chips were gone - top four finishers took home a payout.

But some legal-eagle rained on their parade, and the games stopped in the spring of 2010.

Michigan's law, they were told, only allowed recreational poker games at senior housing facilities - not at senior citizen centers. If they wanted to continue, they needed a license.

Michigan legislators in the House have come to the rescue with HB 5009. The bill would make these games legal at senior citizen centers.

The bill passed today and now it's up to the Senate.

The House Fiscal Agency analysis says during committee deliberation, "there was concern that providing exemptions to gambling prohibitions to specific classes of people is unfair."

If recreational card playing for money is going to be permitted then it should be opened up and applied to all citizens, irrespective to age. A substitute bill to this effect was offered, but was voted down by the committee.

So there may be one more freedom offered to those over sixty.

Now, who is going to keep on eye on the tables? As written now, players cannot bet more than 25 cents per bet, and the winnings from any one hand of cards can not exceed $5.

Lansing city council gives OK to controversial casino project

Steve Carmody — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 03:57:13 +0000

A controversial plan to build a casino in downtown Lansing cleared an important hurdle last night.

The Lansing city council gave its approval for the Sault Ste Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians’ plan to build a casino next to the city’s convention center.

Council members who voted for the casino cited the jobs it will create and a college scholarship program for Lansing children it will fund.

Proposed Lansing casino faces key hurdle tonight

Steve Carmody — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 05:01:01 +0000

The Lansing city council has several items dealing with the casino project on its agenda tonight.

All the items must pass for the $245 million project to move forward.

City council president Brian Jeffries last week questioned if the city is giving up too much in the deal with the Sault Ste Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians and a group of local investors.

The proposal has drawn opposition from critics of casino gambling., other tribes that operate casinos, as well as the governor and state attorney general.

Supporters turn out for public hearing on proposed Lansing casino

Steve Carmody — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 02:57:39 +0000

Lansing business and union leaders came out to a public hearing last night to support a proposed casino project in the city’s downtown.

The Sault Ste Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians wants to build a $245 million dollar casino next to the city's downtown convention center.

Two previous community forums drew a parade of casino critics who warned gambling will increase crime and cause other problems in the capitol city. Last night, it was the supporters' turn to make their case.

Opponents plan to pack Lansing casino public hearing tonight

Steve Carmody — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 05:01:01 +0000

A public hearing tonight in Lansing is expected to draw a large crowd of opponents to a casino in in the city’s downtown.

The Sault Ste Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians wants to build a new casino next to Lansing’s downtown convention center.

Supporters say the casino would bring much needed jobs to the capitol city, boost the city’s convention business and provide funding for a college scholarship program for Lansing school children.

But opponents say the costs are too high.