casino

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."

Federal judge will hear arguments over Lansing's proposed downtown casino

Steve Carmody — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 20:28:00 +0000

A federal judge in Grand Rapids will hear arguments Wednesday in a case that may determine if Lansing will get a downtown casino.

A year ago, the Sault Ste Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians announced plans to build a casino that would wrap around Lansing’s downtown convention center. The plan included the construction of a temporary casino along Michigan Ave.

Gilbert-owned company branching out into Detroit casinos

Sarah Cwiek — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 01:18:29 +0000

A gaming company run by Detroit billionaire Dan Gilbert has announced plans to move into the city’s casino business.

Quicken Loans founder Gilbert owns Rock Gaming, which already owns
several gambling sites in Ohio.

Now, one of the group’s subsidiaries has announced it will buy a
majority stake of the company that runs Detroit’s Greektown
Casino-Hotel.

Gilbert says in a statement they envision a “significant investment”
in the Greektown casino, “as well as the enhancement and growth of the
existing entertainment district.”

The Michigan Gaming Board will need to sign off on the deal.

They hope to grow that area as well, building on what Gilbert calls
“the positive momentum” now going in downtown Detroit.

Gilbert himself is partly responsible for that momentum.

He’s been buying up much of the major commercial real estate in
downtown Detroit in pursuit of a vision he’s dubbed “Detroit 2.0.”

The vision is a vibrant downtown district to “live, work, and play,”
centered around tech start-ups along Woodward Avenue, which Gilbert
calls “Webward” Avenue.

Michigan's Attorney General more optimistic that the U.S. Supreme Court will take up casino case

Steve Carmody — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 20:54:12 +0000

The U.S. Supreme Court could be sending a signal that it may review a case involving a Native American tribe that wants to build an off-reservation casino in Michigan.

The court Monday asked the U.S. solicitor general to weigh in on whether federal courts have the authority to hear lawsuits connected to federal Indian gaming law and whether tribes have immunity from such litigation.

Michigan casinos & the 'fiscal cliff'

Steve Carmody — Tue, 25 Dec 2012 21:21:42 +0000

Michigan’s casino industry could face some problems if the nation falls off the ‘fiscal cliff’ at the end of the year.

The president and Congressional leaders have not reached a compromise to avoid the combination of spending cuts and tax increases, commonly known as the ‘fiscal cliff’.

It’s estimated the average household’s disposable income could lose a thousand dollars next year, if the ‘fiscal cliff’ is not avoided.

Moody’s, one of the nation’s leading credit rating agencies, predicts casinos will be among those hardest hit.

Commentary: Ballot madness

Jack Lessenberry — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 13:22:27 +0000

Five million Michigan voters will go to the polls two months from today. When they are handed their ballots and walk into the voting booth, they will face six ticking time bombs.

I’m talking about the ballot proposals. Yesterday, the State Supreme Court ended a legal battle by ordering three more proposed constitutional amendments on to the ballot. They’ve already put two others there, plus a referendum on the emergency manager law.

Backers of casino ballot question will have to go to court for approval

Rick Pluta — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 20:57:24 +0000

The campaign to allow eight new non-tribal casinos in Michigan will have to go back to court to get a spot on the November ballot.

A state elections board deadlocked along party lines on whether to put the question on the ballot, with Democrats supporting the measure.

Michigan Court of Appeals: Casino ballot initiative is 'unconstitutional'

Michigan Radio Newsroom — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 15:47:54 +0000

This morning, the Michigan Court of Appeals ruled a ballot initiative that would approve eight more private casinos in the state will not appear on the Nov. 6 ballot. The court ruled the ballot proposal is unconstitutional.

MLive reports that Michigan Solicitor General John Bursch broke the news on his Twitter account this morning.

Casino ballot question debated in court

Rick Pluta — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 19:48:29 +0000

The owners of Detroit and tribal casinos were in court today to try to keep a proposal off the November ballot. The proposal would amend the state constitution to allow eight rival casinos to open in Michigan.

The opponents of the proposed amendment say it would also have the practical effect of re-writing state gaming regulations – and that’s not allowed.

Peter Ellsworth is their attorney. He says voters have a right to know what they’re being asked to decide.

In this morning's state news headlines. . .

Michigan Radio Newsroom — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 10:56:14 +0000

Casino hearing

The Michigan Court of Appeals will hear arguments Monday morning on whether a proposal to allow eight new casinos should go on the November ballot. "The campaign turned in more than half a million petition signatures to get the question on the ballot. The opponents include casinos in Detroit and Indian tribes that operate casinos. They would compete with the eight new casinos. The opponents say the ballot proposal tries to do too many things – including changing state gaming laws and amending the Michigan Constitution. They say ballot questions must be simple with a single purpose. The ballot campaign says the amendment was carefully drafted by experts in the state constitution. The three-judge court of appeals panel is not likely to rule today, but it does have to act quickly if state elections officials are going to meet their deadlines to have the November ballot ready in time," Rick Pluta reports.

Flint boxer makes Olympic debut

"Flint's own Claressa Shields makes her Olympic debut Monday morning. The 17-year-old fighter is the youngest competitor in the brand-new women's boxing event. Shields faces Anna Laurell from Sweden in the middleweight quarterfinals," Sarah Hulett reports.

Disease hits deer population

"State wildlife officials say as many of 250 deer have died in the past few weeks from a seasonal disease that usually doesn’t develop until late August or September. The disease is spread by small biting flies that infect the deer. The deer often die close to or in ponds or streams which they seek out as the disease worsen The current outbreak is in Branch, Ionia and Clinton counties," Steve Carmody reports.

Opponents say casino question should be blocked from ballot

Rick Pluta — Tue, 24 Jul 2012 21:32:46 +0000

Opponents of a proposal to allow eight new casinos across Michigan say they will ask the state Court of Appeals to order the question off the November ballot.

The Protect MI Vote coalition is made up of business groups, as well as the three Detroit casinos and three tribal casinos.

Attorneys for the group say the proposal was poorly drafted because it combines an amendment to the state constitution with a re-write of Michigan’s law that regulates casino gaming.

John Truscott of Protect MI Vote says that makes the ballot question confusing and misleading.

Michigan takes another step toward expanding casino gambling

Steve Carmody — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 16:58:25 +0000

The group behind a push to allow eight new private casinos in Michigan handed in more than a half million signatures today to put the issue on the November ballot.

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.

Does Michigan need more casinos? It's a question voters may answer this fall

Steve Carmody — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 16:15:17 +0000

A petition drive is underway that may end with asking Michigan voters if they want more casinos.

The state Board of Canvassers approved the form of the petition today.

If enough signatures are collected, voters this fall will be asked to approve expanding the number of private casinos in Michigan by eight. The expansion is opposed by Michigan’s existing casino owners.

Emily Palsrok is with the Citizens for More Michigan Jobs, the group behind the petition drive.

“Well we think there’s more room for competition. We don’t think anyone should be afraid of that," says Palsrok, "The gaming industry in Michigan is doing very well. If we look at the numbers that just the three Detroit casinos posted…they’re doing very well…there’s room for more competition.”

There are several other proposals that could eventually double the number of casinos in Michigan.

Supporters of the campaign would have to collect more than 300,000 voter signatures to make a statewide ballot.

Among the locations that would get new casinos through the proposal are Detroit, Pontiac, Grand Rapids and Romulus. Others would be in Birch Run, Macomb County's Clinton Township, Wexford County's Clam Lake Township and DeWitt Township in the Lansing area.

Casino Lottery

Jack Lessenberry — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 16:08:25 +0000

Yesterday I talked to a student who has a right to be proud of herself. Now in her early 30s, she was born in poverty to Mexican migrant workers in Arizona, and had two babies before she was out of her teens. Yet she got it together through sheer determination and hard work, and is now finishing her second college degree and working in public relations. She clearly has a bright future.

Betting on more casinos in Michigan

The Associated Press — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 19:57:06 +0000

Fights are getting under way between groups that are proposing at least 22 new casinos in Michigan and opponents seeking to protect the business of existing gambling halls or simply opposed to more of them.

The Detroit Free Press (http://on.freep.com/AArZwC ) says it has reviewed confidential documents on proposals for opening new casinos besides the three now operating in Detroit and others charted by Indian groups around Michigan.

Four tribes are working to expand off-reservation gambling, while two investor groups are seeking to amend the Michigan Constitution to allow more casinos.

There are four proposals for casinos in Romulus and two each in Detroit and Port Huron.

Michigan State University tribal law expert Matthew Fletcher calls it a "fantasy" and questions if people want that many casinos in lower Michigan.

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Information from: Detroit Free Press, http://www.freep.com

Big money and jobs tied to proposed Lansing casino

The Associated Press — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 11:45:26 +0000

Plans call for a $245 million American Indian casino in downtown Lansing that backers say could create about 2,200 jobs.

The Lansing State Journal, the Detroit Free Press and The Detroit News report that the Kewadin casino would be built near the Lansing Center and owned by the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians.

Is a casino in Lansing's future?

Steve Carmody — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 19:43:21 +0000

Officials in Lansing are expected to announce plans tomorrow to build an Indian casino in the capitol city. Opposition to the plan is already gathering.

The press release from the mayor’s office only describes it as a ‘Major Economic Development Project’. But everyone is expecting the announcement will confirm months of rumor and speculation that one of Michigan’s Indian tribes wants to build a casino in Lansing.

The Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians is expected to be the group behind the casino project. The plan is expected to place the casino next to Lansing’s downtown convention center.

Even before the formal announcement, opposition is lining up to the idea of building a casino in Michigan’s capitol city.

There are two existing Indian casinos within easy driving distance of Lansing. Also, Michigan’s Attorney General is leery of expanding the number of casinos in the state. There are nearly two dozen casinos operating in Michigan today, most of owned by Native American tribes.

Are city officials close to rolling the dice on a casino in Lansing?

Steve Carmody — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 19:09:55 +0000

Media reports claim the city of Lansing is talking with a native American tribe about opening a casino in the capital city.

In this morning's news...

Mark Brush — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 12:49:20 +0000

Parts of Detroit without power this morning

Power outages are affecting many of Detroit's main buildings today. Workers at Detroit's city hall were told not to report to work this morning. From the Detroit News:

Numerous municipal buildings throughout the city's downtown area remained without power this morning after the city's antiquated public power system failed because of high demand for air-conditioning following a stretch of 90-degree weather earlier this week.
One of the city's five power lines at the Misterky Power Plant failed Wednesday and two others went down on Thursday, leaving the Coleman A. Young Municipal Building, the Detroit Public Library, Wayne State University, the Detroit Institute of Arts, several federal buildings and Detroit Public Schools without electrical service, officials said.
The city hoped to have the problem fixed this afternoon.

Group wants American Indian casino in Lansing

After failing to get enough signatures to put the issue on the August ballot, the Associated Press reports that a group is still moving ahead with a plan to bring an American Indian casino to Lansing:

Ted O'Dell, chairman of Lansing Jobs Coalition, tells the Lansing State Journal for a story Friday that he'll ask City Council members to approve his request before trying a ballot issue. He wants to gather enough signatures to get it on the city's November ballot.

O'Dell's group did not submit the number of signatures needed to put the issue on the August ballot.

In April, a group aiming to build casinos in Lansing and six other Michigan cities launched a process that could put the measure before state voters this fall. "Michigan is Yours" needs more than 300,000 signatures from registered voters across the state.

The effort failed to make the 2010 state ballot.

Pit Bull ban tabled

A bill to ban pit bulls in the state won't see any action in the state legislature. From the Detroit Free Press:

A legislative attempt to eventually ban pit bull ownership in Michigan has been leashed.
State Rep. Tim Bledsoe, D-Grosse Pointe, introduced the legislation to make it illegal to own a pit bull after a 10-year phaseout.
But the chairman of the Regulatory Reform Committee in the state House, Rep. Hugh Crawford, R-Novi, said he's not planning to move on the bill, effectively shelving it.