Fort Peck Tribes move forward with casino plan thanks to loan

Monday, March 23, 2015

Artist's rendering of the Buffalo Rivers Casino and Lodge on the Fort Peck Reservation in Montana. Image from BRC

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The Fort Peck Tribes of Montana are moving forward with a casino thanks to a loan from the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community of Minnesota.

The tribe agreed to accept $29 million for the Buffalo Rivers Casino and Lodge in Fort Kipp. Plans call for a facility with 400 gaming machines, four poker tables, an events center, a restaurant/buffet, a snack bar, a lounge and a 75-room hotel.

The tribe plans to break ground on June 15. The casino would open by May 2016 with 220 full-time employees.

"The Ft. Kipp location is chosen due to its aesthetic beauty and its proximity to a nearby population base," the casino website states. Fort Kipp is about 50 miles from Williston, North Dakota, an area that has seen big growth due to energy development.

The casino is expected to cost between $33 million and $34 million so the Shakopee loan could cover most of the expenses. The money must be repaid over 15 years with a 6.5 percent interest rate.

The tribe anticipates earning about $5.8 million a year from the casino.

Get the Story:
Fort Peck looks to build casino, could cost as much as $43M (KBZK 3/23)
Tribes approved for $29 million loan (The Fort Peck Journal 3/19)