"A federal judge's ruling has put a proposed tribal casino in New Buffalo, Mich., back on track. That's not good news for the Northwest Indiana casinos.

The Pokagon Band of the Potawatomi Indians plans to build a 144,000-square-foot casino just 10 miles from the Blue Chip Casino riverboat in nearby Michigan City.

U.S. District Court Judge James Robertson's ruling late Thursday leaves it up to the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs to determine whether sufficient study of the casino's impact on the community has been conducted.

The effect on the community must be studied carefully. Unless revenue from the casino will significantly improve the local quality of life, it shouldn't even be considered."

Get the Story:
New Buffalo casino would hurt existing Northwest Indiana casinos (The Munster Times 3/29)