Tagged: kewadin lansing casino

Plans for a casino in downtown Lansing are in jeopardy this evening.

The Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians wants to build a $245 million casino next to Lansing’s convention center.  However, before the tribe could build the casino, the U.S. Department of the Interior would have to agree to take the land for the casino into trust.

But Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette filed a lawsuit trying to block the tribe's trust request.

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.  

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.