Casino Stalker

Michigan governor opposes Soo Tribe off-reservation casino

Monday, February 13, 2012

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder (R) is opposing the off-reservation casino sought by the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians.

Snyder and state Attorney General Bill Schuette urged the tribe to drop plans for the $245 million Kewadin Lansing Casino. They said the project was "inconsistent with state and federal law and the tribe’s gaming compact with the state," The Detroit Free Press reported.

“For these reasons, we respectfully advise you that the state will take whatever steps are necessary to prevent the opening of the proposed casino, and if the tribe persists in these efforts it does so at its own risk," Snyder and Schuette wrote in a letter obtained by the paper.

The tribe plans to acquire the casino site using funds from the Michigan Indian Land Claims Settlement Act. A provision in the law requires the Interior Department to place settlement lands in trust although legal experts say the process might not be so simple.

Get the Story:
Snyder, Schuette notify tribe they'll oppose proposed casino in Lansing (The Detroit Free Press 2/13)
Lansing casino developer applies for $20 million tax break for parking garage project (The Lansing News 2/13)
Lansing casino project: Who are the players? (The Lansing State Journal 2/12)