The Bay Mills Indian Community owns two casinos (Kings Club Casino and Bay Mills Resort & Casino) in Brimley (MI).
For nearly two decades, Bay Mills has attempted to get approvals to build a casino resort in Port Huron, 350 miles away from its Upper Peninsula Reservation. Detroit casino syndicator Michael Malik (Blue Water Resorts), with support from Marian Ilitch – her family owns the Detroit Tiger (MLB) and Red Wings (NHL), MotorCity Casino and Little Caesars pizza – has been the driving force behind the Bay Mills schemes. They’ve spent millions lobbying local, state and federal officials and benefiting the campaign coffers of politicians who they have leaned on for support.
In 1993, Port Huron voters rejected Malik’s plan to develop a Bay Mills casino in partnership with Harrah’s.
For the better part of the last decade, their schemes have centered on a Land Claims Settlement they had negotiated with former Governor John Engler in the final days of his administration. Malik and cronies had acquired control of properties in Charlotte Beach (MI) where Bay Mills had made land claims. Those properties were to be leveraged to gain the right to build in Port Huron.
During 2010 Bay Mills acquired properties in Flint, Vanderbilt and Port Huron (MI).
With little to lose and much to gain, the Bay Mills Indian Community opened a mini-casino in Vanderbilt (MI) on Nov 3, 2010. The 1,200 square foot facility, located 100 miles from the Bay Mills Reservation, had 38 slot machines. (Bay Mills Press Release)
On the same day, leaders of five other Michigan Tribes released a joint statement calling on the National Indian Gaming Commission, the U.S. Department of Justice, and the Department of the Interior to work together with Michigan’s Governor and Attorney General to take swift and immediate action to close what they called an “illegal gaming operation.”
The National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC Opinion) and U.S. Department of Interior (Solicitor's Opinion) have opined the Vanderbilt casino is not on Indian Lands and is therefore illegal.
In December 2010, the Little Traverse Bay Band of Odawa Indians and Michigan’s Attorney General filed lawsuits seeking to shut down the Vanderbilt casino. (Petoskey News)
In January 2011, Bay Mills completed an expansion of the Vanderbilt casino more than doubling its size to 2,600 sq. ft.
On March 3, 2011, Bay Mills was ordered to shutter the Vanderbilt casino. In that ruling (Pgs 10-11), Judge Paul L. Maloney says the Vanderbilt property does not qualify as "Indian Lands" and as such is not exempt from the usual taxes, fees, codes and regulations.
A complicated and sure to be precedent setting legal challenge has ensued. The blog Turtle Talk, Pechanga.net and Indianz.com are resources of details and updates on the court activity.
Bay Mills leaders are expected to make a presentation to the Flint Township Board on Monday, October 3rd at 7:00 PM. It has been rumored they plan to reveal plans for another off-reservation casino on 28 acres they acquired in Flint last December. (10.03.11 | Agenda)
Rep. Dale Kildee (D-Flint) says it is highly unlikely Bay Mills can get the approvals to open a Flint casino.
It has been reported that if the play in Vanderbilt succeeds, Bay Mills plans to convert the old Port Huron post office on Military Street into a temporary casino with 1,500 slot machines.
Eventually, Bay Mills intends to build a permanent casino and luxury hotel at Desmond Landing, where the tribe owns 16.5 acres.
Five Opposing Tribes: Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, the Gun Lake Tribe of Pottawatomi Indians, the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi Indians and the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe.
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