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Fond du Lac Band plans to spend $5.5M on casino renovations

Monday, March 23, 2015


Artist's rendering of the new exterior of the Fond-du-Luth Casino in Duluth, Minnesota. Image from Fond du Lac Band
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The Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians announced a $5.5 million renovation of its casino in downtown Duluth, Minnesota.

The Fond-du-Luth Casino will get a more modern look, nearly 30 years after opening in 1986. The Art Deco facade and the interior are being replaced, the surveillance system is being updated and the first floor is being converted to a non-smoking area.

“The Art Deco theme was really interesting and new when first built but it’s become incredibly dated,” Chairwoman Karen Diver told The Duluth News Tribune. “The facade improvements will blend in nicely with a lot of the redevelopment happening in Old Downtown.”


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The casino has been the subject of numerous legal battles over a revenue sharing agreement that was invalidated by the federal government. The tribe paid $75 million to the city of Duluth before payments stopped in 2009.

In November, the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments over an additional $12 million that is in dispute. A decision hasn't been announced.

Get the Story:
Renovations to begin on casino in downtown Duluth (The Duluth News Tribune 3/23) Related Stories:
Fond du Lac Band to spend $3M on more modern look at casino (02/23)
Fond du Lac Band wins ruling affecting land adjacent to casino (12/24)
8th Circuit hears arguments in Fond du Lac Band casino suit (11/13)