The Little River Band of Ottawa Indians of Michigan just won a major award for its casino as the tribe pursues a second venue off the reservation.
The Little River Casino Resort was named Casino of the Year by the International Entertainment Buyers Association.
The facility beat out five other finalists, including four tribal properties.
General manager Wendell Long accepted the award at the association's meeting last month. He said the tribe hopes to repeat its success with a $100 million off-reservation casino at a former
racetrack
"We can do it," Long told The Muskegon Chronicle. "We want to be part of the synergy that makes Muskegon even better."
The tribe is pursuing the casino under the two-part determination provisions of
the Indian
Gaming Regulatory Act. If the Bureau of Indian Affairs approves, the state governor will have veto authority.
The 233-acre site is about 80 miles from the reservation.
Get the Story:
Manager: Manistee's 'casino of the year' model could be replicated for proposed Fruitport location
(The Muskegon Chronicle 10/27)
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Little River Band's off-reservation gaming plan (06/30)