The Little Traverse Bay
Bands of Odawa Indians will spend $2.5 million on a modest casino in Mackinaw City, Michigan, The Petoskey News-Review reports.
The 5,000 square-foot casino will feature 64 slot machines, the paper said. About 20 people will be employed at the facility.
"We're starting off with a very small property," Eric McLester, the general manager for the Odawa Casino Resort in
Petoskey told the paper.
Future plans calls for a 130-room hotel. But McLester said the tribe won't go down that path until it pays off existing debt -- the paper estimated it to be around $40 million.
"We've got about four years before that debt is paid off," McLester told the paper. "Then we can start to focus on financing the new hotel."
The tribe's Class III gaming compact authorizes two casinos but local approval is required. Mackinaw City has not yet approved the facility
Get the Story:
Casino manager: Petoskey hotel to come after existing casino debt paid
(The Petoskey News-Review 6/26)
Related Stories:
Little
Traverse Bay Bands revive plan for second gaming facility (6/24)
Little
Traverse Bay Bands still waiting to hear about casino bid (08/07)
City
moving slowly on Little Traverse Bay Bands casino project (07/12)
Little
Traverse Bay Bands see positive reception to casino plan (04/24)
Little
Traverse Bay Bands to outline plans for casino at meeting (04/23)
Little
Traverse Bay Bands try another shot at second casino (03/29)