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Pokagon Band announces January 16 debut of first tribal casino in Indiana

Tuesday, January 9, 2018

Four Winds South Bend Opens January 16

Four Winds South Bend Opens January 16 and will feature Copper Rock Steakhouse, Kankakee Grille, The Buffet, Timbers, Players lounge, White Birch Market, Three Bars, Outfitters, and 1,800 games.

Posted by Four Winds Casinos on Wednesday, January 3, 2018
Four Winds Casinos on Facebook: Four Winds South Bend Opens January 16

The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians will open the doors to the first-ever tribal casino in Indiana on January 16.

The Four Winds Casino in South Bend offers 175,000 square-feet of gaming, dining and entertainment space. It's located on a portion of a 166-acre site that was placed in trust by the Bureau of Indian Affairs during the Obama administration.

The casino will only feature Class II games, such as bingo and electronic versions of bingo, when it opens. The tribe has not negotiated a Class III gaming compact with Indiana that would authorize slot machines, table games and related offerings.

But the tribe will be sharing 2 percent of net winnings with the city of South Bend. The tribe has similar arrangements in neighboring Michigan, where it has a Class III compact.

“Once operating, it will generate revenue to fund services and programs that will create additional economic opportunities for Pokagon citizens, the city of South Bend, and also fund community projects, local organizations and schools," Chairman John P. Warren said in a press release. "Our commitment to our tribal citizens, children and families of this region is our greatest priority."

The tribe operates three Four Winds facilities in Michigan.

Read More on the Story:
New South Bend casino set to open (The South Bend Tribune January 9, 2018)
Four Winds Casino to open Jan. 16 in South Bend (The South Bend Tribune January 3, 2018)
Tribe opening casino in college town (The Grand Rapids Business Journal January 3, 2018)
New South Bend casino sets opening date (MLive January 3, 2018)
Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians and Four Winds Casino to open in South Bend (WNDU January 2, 2018)

Federal Register Notices:
Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians, Michigan and Indiana (November 29, 2016)
Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians Fee-to-Trust Transfer for Tribal Village and Casino, City of South Bend, St. Joseph County, Indiana (March 12, 2015)
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Pokagon Band Tribal Village Fee-to-Trust Acquisition and Casino Project in the City of South Bend, St. Joseph County, IN (August 24, 2012)

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Pokagon Band not in a rush to negotiate Class III gaming compact for new facility (August 29, 2017)
Pokagon Band on track to open first gaming facility in Indiana in January 2018 (August 22, 2017)
Pokagon Band on hiring spree as first tribal casino in Indiana takes shape (July 24, 2017)
Pokagon Band expects to open gaming facility in Indiana in early 2018 (July 13, 2017)
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