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Updated: 7:24 AM Jul 4, 2008
Four Winds Casino disputes over sharing record profits
Gaming board says casino violated agreement with state to share slot profits. Posted: 6:30 PM Jul 3, 2008Reporter: Stephanie Stang Email Address: stephanie.stang@wndu.com |
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It could be called a windfall of a profit for the casino.
The Michigan Gaming Control Board released figures that show Four Winds Casino brings in twenty four million dollars a month. In fact figures show the casino continue to bring in a steady stream of revenue since it opened.
But the tribe could be in trouble for violating an agreement with the state.
Ten years ago The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians signed an agreement to share profits from the slots with state and local government.
Since the casino opened last August the tribe has missed two payments.
In the agreement two percent of the net revenue from electronic gaming devices would go to local municipalities and eight percent would go to the state.
The tribe owes nearly four million dollars and sixteen million dollars to the state. The Michigan Gaming Control Board shows that the tribe will owe a total of nearly twenty million dollars to the government.
It's money county officials were banking on to help provide more police protection around the casino. Instead the New Buffalo Township has taken out loans to pay for the equipment.
“We are paying good money for public safety in the area now and the work that is being done is paid for in advances and loans and we want the money to be released so we could be operating on more stable cash basis,” says the Berrien County Administrator Bill Wolf.
The state is threatening to take legal action.
A spokesperson from the tribe says they would like the revenue sharing board to re-organize before they release the money.
Currently the board is looking for a third member.

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