Editorial: Supreme Court case brings drama to Michigan gaming

Even those who live there would probably describe Vanderbilt as a "quiet" or "sleepy" type of community.

Nestled near the Pigeon River Country of Michigan, the geography of the community is some of the prettiest in Michigan but outside of that, as far as communities go, Vanderbilt is rather "non-descript."

Monday, however, it found itself front and center in a debate before the U.S. Supreme Court as representatives of the Bay Mills Tribe and state of Michigan argued over the right of the tribe to establish a casino there. While no one denies the rights of Native Americans to establish casinos on sovereign tribal properties, what makes Vanderbilt different is that the site on which the casino was constructed, before being shut down by state officials, was purchased by the tribe using proceeds from a land settlement.

At issue is whether "off-reservation" properties, if purchased by tribes, makes the property eligible for casino development.