The Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, in accordance with revenue sharing agreements, recently will have paid more than million from revenue from its Odawa Casinos in Petoskey and Mackinaw City to the state of Michigan and Emmet County. The tribe presented about .7 million to the state and will make a payment of about 5,000 to the county next week.
Odawa Casino General Manager Eric McLester said, “We are proud to be able to make such a significant contribution each year to our local community. Not only does the community benefit through sharing in the revenue generated by Odawa Casino, but also through the nearly 550 jobs it provides to local citizens, both tribal and non-tribal.”
The tribe began making revenue sharing payments in 1999, annually to the state and semi-annually to the county. To date the payments have totaled more than $50 million. Emmet County uses its funds for infrastructure projects, education and public safety. Last August the tribe paid the county $453,600, bringing its total local revenue sharing proceeds for 2016 to more than $980,000. For 2015 and 2016 combined, total payments to state and local governments will total more than $7.4 million.
In addition to the revenue sharing payments, the tribe’s casino and hotel operations generate tax revenue for the state and federal government through payroll tax and taxes on the goods and services purchased by the Odawa operations.
Odawa Casino Resort in Petoskey opened in June 2007 and features 1,000 slot machines, dozens of table games, a poker room, restaurants, gift shop, a nightclub and a 137-room hotel. Odawa Casino Mackinaw opened in May 2016 and features 120 electronic bingo terminals.
