The White Earth Nation recently opened its second Shooting Star Casino, between Bagley and Ebro, Minnesota. The 21,400 square foot facility features more than 170 slot machines and a new restaurant, bar and grill.
The tribe’s original Shooting Star Casino in Mahnomen opened in 1991 in a temporary facility. The tribe invested $30 million in a 145,300 square foot expansion in 2012. The location also features a 15,000 square foot concert venue, 386-room hotel and 3,000 square foot meeting space.
The new location created 71 new jobs, said General Manager Bill Marsh. “We did a feasibility in early 2015, and through that it was found that this area had a great demographic and offered a good opportunity for market penetration. We believe that there will be a substantial impact on Bagley and the surrounding areas, creating both new employment and bringing new dollars,” he said.
Ground was broken for the second Shooting Star last November. Designed by Cuningham Group of Minneapolis, it does not include a hotel or event center but could be expanded in the future. Marsh said, “We have had a lot of ideas for expanding it, but nothing is set in stone. It’s going to be based off the demand. If the demand is here, and our players ask for it, then we will answer the call.”
The tribe also announced plans to build a third casino near Dent. Marsh explained, “Our plan for that facility is to use the same design firm, so a lot of the architecture you see in Bagley will also be in Star Lake on a larger scale.” The Dent location will include a gaming area with slots, a bar and grill, buffet, retail, hotel and an RV park. “I think it’s safe to say there’s not a lot of opportunity for tribes to continue to expand gaming. So White Earth Nation is fortunate in their findings from the feasibility study locating new market areas both with Bagley and Dent,” Marsh stated.
