Port Huron casino scheme defeated in House of Representatives

A bill, H.R. 2176, that would have paved the way for Michael Malik and the Bay Mills Indian Community to build an off-reservation casino in Port Huron, Michigan was defeated soundly today in the U.S. House of Representatives (121 to 298).

Malik and the Bay Mills tribe have been trying to site an off-reservation casino in the greater Detroit area for more than a decade. Their plans have been backed by members of Detroit's high-profile Ilitch family. Mrs. Marian Ilitch owns Detroit's MotorCity Casino.

Malik had originally been a partner in MotorCity Casino but the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) refused to grant a gaming license to Malik. He was forced to divest himself of interests in MotorCity Casino before the gambling hall could open its doors. Malik and members of the Ilitch family have also partnered on other Indian casino schemes in California and New York. Although apparently not employed today by Ilitch Holdings, Inc., or any of its affiliates, Malik's business office is within the suite of executive offices at Ilitch Holdings in Detroit's Fox Theater Building.

Over the last decade, at least six other bills similar to H.R. 2176 have been introduced, but failed to win approvals, in Congress. This was the first time such a bill moved out of committee and was submitted to a vote of the full House.