Michigan tells Bay Mills Indian Community to shut down casino

Friday, December 17, 2010  

Michigan attorney general Mike Cox is telling the Bay Mills Indian Community to shut down its off-reservation casino.

The tribe says it's entitled to open a casino in Vanderbilt in connection with a land claim settlement. But a letter from Cox said the site doesn't qualify for gaming under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.

"The State therefore demands that Bay Mills immediately cease operation of all Class III gaming at the Vanderbilt casino," Cox wrote. "If such Class III gaming is not terminated after Bay Mills' receipt of this letter, the State will take appropriate action to ensure compliance with its laws and compel closure of the Vanderbilt casino."

The tribe opened the casino on November 3 and recently began an expansion that will double the size of the facility.

Get the Story:
State denies Vanderbilt casino (The Port Huron Times Herald 12/17)
State orders Vanderbilt Bay Mills Casino to close (The Gaylord Herald Times 12/17)
State Orders Vanderbilt Casino Closed (IPR 12/16)
AG tells Vanderbilt Casino to "cease operations immediately" (Up North Live 12/16)

Related Stories:
Editorial: Negotiate new ground rules for Michigan tribal casinos (12/15)
IPR: Bay Mills expands off-reservation casino amid legal issues (12/10)
Bay Mills Indian Community doubles size of off-reservation casino (12/8)
Editorial: Cheering for Bay Mills off-reservation casino proposal (11/29)
Column: Developer confident on Bay Mills off-reservation casino (11/22)
Bay Mills off-reservation casino still under scrutiny in Michigan (11/17)
IPR: Bay Mills Tribe makes big splash with off-reservation casino (11/16)
Column: Bay Mills still confident of casino success after 17 years (11/15)
Talk Back: Residents not keen on Bay Mills off-reservation casino (11/10)
Lobbyist who was praised by Bay Mills works against tribe's casino (11/9)
Little Traverse Bay Bands ends payment to state in casino dispute (11/9)
Bay Mills Indian Community defends legality of gaming operation (11/8)
Bay Mills Indian Community mum following purchase of more land (11/5)
Michigan tribes push for closure of Bay Mills off-reservation casino (11/4)
Bay Mills Indian Community opens off-reservation casino after all (11/3)
Bay Mills Indian Community rejects speculation over casino bid (10/25)