On April 14, the Bureau of Indian Affairs will hold a public hearing in South Bend, Indiana to take comments on a draft environmental impact statement on the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians’ application to build a 0 million casino there. Pokagon Band Chairman John P. Warren said, “This is an important first step in a lengthy process that began over two years ago. We are very pleased to have reached this significant milestone.”
The DEIS indicated the casino would have no significant effect aside from traffic. However, Indiana’s casino landscape could significantly change if the casino is approved. Ed Feigenbaum, editor of Indiana Gaming Insight, said, “This is a game-changer even if it were competing on the same playing field,” referring to the fact that the proposed Four Winds Casino would not pay the same taxes as other Indiana casinos since it would be located on federal trust land.
Existing casinos in northwest Indiana–Blue Chip Casino in Michigan City, Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Ameristar Casino in East Chicago and Majestic Star in Gary–already are sounding the alarms. “A new casino in South Bend would add capacity to an already saturated market,” said David Strow, corporate communications director for Las Vegas-based Boyd Gaming Corporation, owner of the Blue Chip. A Spectrum Gaming Group study for the Casino Association of Indiana indicated the proposed Pokagon casino would “significantly affect the investment climate and the competitive landscape.”
Gambling revenue at the four northwest Indiana casinos has declined 14 percent in the last five fiscal years, from $1.18 billion to $1.02 billion, according to the Indiana Gaming Commission. Statewide, casino revenue is down 17 percent, from $2.78 billion to $2.30 billion in the same period.
The tribe already operates Four Winds casinos in New Buffalo, Dowagiac and Hartford.
