The Gun Lake Tribe announced it directed more than .7 million in revenue sharing payments to the state of Michigan, local governments and nonprofits and the tribe’s economic development entity, GLIMI. The amount is based on a percentage of slots revenue at its Gun Lake Casino in Bradley, Michigan, from October 1, 2016 through March 31, 2017, under the tribe-state gaming compact.
The state received $3.75 million and GLIMI received $1.87 million which it will award in grants to local governments and nonprofits. GLIMI received $1.12 million.
Since the casino opened in February 2011, the Gun Lake Tribe has made more than 13 distributions to state and local governments totaling $93.4 million. The casino employs more than 1,000 people.
Gun Lake Tribe Chairman Scott Sprague said, “Our team members at the casino deserve a lot of credit for their outstanding contributions to the strong results for this revenue sharing distribution.” Sprague also praised the construction team for its efforts on behalf of the $76 million addition that opened last month, doubling the size of the casino with 500 new slots. The restaurant and entertainment venues were enlarged and a new high limit gaming room and bar will open later this year.
Last year the tribe alleged the Michigan Lottery’s online games violated a 2007 compact guaranteeing the tribe exclusive gaming rights in a 9-county area in exchange for a cut of the tribe’s gambling take. The tribe withheld payment but reached a partial settlement with the state last summer. Tribal General Counsel Zeke Fletcher said, “The tribe and state avoided litigation by negotiating the partial settlement agreement. We will continue to look for the best process to amend the compact.”
Also in Michigan, the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community held a recruitment open house for individuals interested in apprenticeships in skilled trades as the tribe expands its Ojibwa Casinos in Baraga and Marquette.
KBIC Tribal Employment Rights Office Director Debbie Picciano said, “We’re building a multimillion dollar facility and we want our people to be proud of it. We want our community to be proud of it and community members working on it. So we reached out to the unions and they have apprenticeships open now for people who are looking to get a skilled trade.”
The Marquette Casino expansion will include an 80-room hotel, 1,200-seat entertainment complex and three restaurants.
