Gun Lake Tribe marks major milestone with management of casino

Thursday, February 8, 2018  

The Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians, also known as the Gun Lake Tribe, is now in full control of its casino in Michigan.

The tribe opened the Gun Lake Casino in February 2011 with the help of Station Casinos. The management contract ran for seven years, a term that ended on Tuesday.

This is a significant milestone because we are taking another step toward complete self-sufficiency as a tribal government,” Chairman Scott Sprague said in press release. “We appreciate the relationship with Station Casinos as it enabled us to open a professional gaming operation from day one. We also gained valuable knowledge and experience that we will use to continue our success.”

Since 2011, the casino has become a major economic engine, employing more than 1,000 people. As of December 2017, the tribe has shared more than $100 million in revenues with the state and local governments.

The tribe completed the second phase of a $76 million expansion of the facility in September. A larger parking deck is now under construction, MLive reported.

The activity comes as the tribe awaits a decision from the U.S. Supreme Court. The outcome in Patchak v. Zinke will determine whether Congress can protect the casino from a land-into-trust lawsuit.

Oral arguments took place on November 7. A decision is expected before the end of the June, which is when the court's current term ends.

Read More on the Story:
Gun Lake Casino leaders celebrate their new independence (MLive.Com February 7, 2018)
Gun Lake Casino will be operated by tribe (WZZM February 7, 2018)
Gun Lake Tribe ends casino deal with private operator (WHTC February 8, 2018)

U.S. Supreme Court Documents:
Oral Argument Transcript | Docket Sheet No. 16-498 | Questions Presented

D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals Decision:
Patchak v. Jewell (July 15, 2016)

U.S. Supreme Court Decision:
Patchak v. Jewell (June 18, 2012)

Prior D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals Decision:
Patchak v. Salazar (January 21, 2011)

Gun Lake Tribe surpasses $100 million mark in gaming revenues shared in Michigan (December 11, 2017)
Supreme Court hears arguments in long-running Gun Lake Tribe homeland case (November 7, 2017)
Gun Lake Tribe secures strong local support in casino case except for one town (October 13, 2017)
Gun Lake Tribe shares oral arguments with Trump team in Supreme Court case (October 10, 2017)
Gun Lake Tribe draws in more allies as Supreme Court considers casino case (September 25, 2017)
Supreme Court sets November 7 arguments in long-running land-into-trust case (September 6, 2017)
Gun Lake Tribe shares another $6.7M in casino funds in Michigan (June 5, 2017)
Supreme Court brings bad news to tribes by taking up land case (May 1, 2017)
Supreme Court relists petition in Gun Lake Tribe gaming land case (April 25, 2017)
Supreme Court takes no action on long-running tribal land case (April 24, 2017)
Trump team gets more time in Supreme Court tribal casino case (February 27, 2017)
Federal appeals court backs Gun Lake Tribe land-into-trust law (July 15, 2016)