Two Michigan tribes and one in Louisiana recently announced revenue sharing payments.
The Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians, also known as the Gun Lake Tribe, recently made a revenue sharing payment of more than $8.2 million from gaming revenue at its Gun Lake Casino in Wayland, Michigan between October 1, 2018 to March 31, 2019. The payment was nearly 8 percent higher than the spring payment from 2018.
The state of Michigan received $4.603 million and local communities near the casino received $2.301 million. The statewide economic development entity GLIMI also received $1.381 million. Since the casino opened in February 2011, the tribe has shared more than $126.6 million with the state and local communities.
Chairman Bob Peters said, “We are pleased to continue sharing revenue with the local community. The compact payments fund important local services and K-12 public education programs that greatly enhance the quality of life in our area.”
Also, the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe recently shared $2.91 million in gaming revenue for governmental and educational programs. The total included $2.16 million for programs in Isabella County from the Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort in Mount Pleasant, and $747,478 for programs in Arenac County and in northern Bay County from the Saganing Eagles Landing Casino in Standish.
Chief Ronald Ekdahl said, “The Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe has the unique and wonderful opportunity to help in alleviating needs felt by our local governments and schools through 2 percent distributions. The benefit this funding brings to our communities is felt by so many here in Isabella, Northern Bay and Arenac counties. We continue to collaborate and communicate with our local partners to make our communities a better place to live.”
The tribe has distributed more than $250 million since 1994.
Also, the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana recently made a quarterly distribution of $95,008 in gaming profits from its Paragon Casino to local government agencies—the first time since 2016. Under the tribe’s gaming compact, it must distribute 6 percent of net casino profits to six agencies and nine municipalities in Avoyelles Parish.
When a distribution is possible, the compact requires the Avoyelles Commission of Tourism receives the first $12,500, leaving a net distribution was $82,508. The six parish-wide agencies divided $61,881 and the municipalities divided $20,627.
The casino reported a net loss since its last distribution of $5,256 in 2016. The tribe made distributions of $139,980 in 2015 and $101,968 in 2014.
District Attorney Charles Riddle said, “We believe this will be an ongoing thing. I believe the tribe has solved its problems that kept it from showing a profit.” Tribal Chairman Marshall Pierite added, “It is our mission here at the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe and Paragon Casino to be a great community partner. Our goal is to remain supportive of parish-wide and community enrichment programs. It is our shared vision that all of these endeavors are possible.” Pierite praised the Paragon’s 1,000-plus employees for their “hard work and dedication” and to the communities in and around Avoyelles “for their patronage and support. It takes teamwork to make the dream work.”
Despite not making quarterly distributions, the tribe has been giving grants to local governments and nonprofits involved in civic improvement efforts.
