Editorial: Little River Band casino could bring economic boost

Tribe officials have said they will invest $180 million in the project and that they expect to create more than 1,200 new jobs — many of which will almost certainly be filled by people living in Northwest Ottawa County.

It would be hard to argue that kind of economic impact would be less than significant. Muskegon County has had its fair share of setbacks in the past. This could be the start of even further development that helps revive a struggling area.

Like most things, there is a downside.

When gambling is involved, people lose money, which sometimes leads to even more serious issues. Crime sometimes becomes more prevalent, too.

If this plan continues to move forward, we encourage local officials to be proactive in their efforts to educate and inform the public about the consequences that gambling can cause and have a plan in place to deal with problems that arise.