Grand Traverse Band to Open New Temporary Casino in Michigan

The Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians (GTB) is set to open its new temporary casino in Michigan. Located in Benzie County, the property would mark the tribe’s third gambling venue in the state.

GTB Expands Its Footprint in Michigan

The new property will be called Crystal Shores Casino and will be located at 7282 Hoadley Road in Benzonia. The temporary venue will be developed inside an existing tribal government building at the location. In addition to sporting a new casino, the building will continue to host tribal government offices.

The temporary venue will be fairly small, boasting a total gaming area of 3,213 square feet. According to estimates, it should be able to accommodate up to 250 visitors.

On January 18 and 19, GTB will hold a soft opening for its members. Then, on January 22, the temporary casino will officially open to the public. Guests can look forward to engaging with a wide array of slot machines.

Since the tribal operator has an existing deal with the American gaming juggernaut Caesars, it is possible for a sportsbook to be added to the temporary casino or its permanent counterpart. GTB also offers iGaming in the state via its agreement with Caesars Palace Casino.

A Permanent Property to Come at a Later Date

Crystal Shores Casino will notably mark GTB’s third property in Michigan. The company still operates its first casino, the Leelanau Sands Casino & Lodge in Peshawbestown, as well as its current flagship property, the Turtle Creek Casino & Lodge in Williamsburg.

As mentioned, the temporary Crystal Shores Casino will be fairly small by most casino standards. However, the company has planned to create a larger permanent casino in the future. While the tribal entity has largely refrained from commenting on its plans, it confirmed that it has the land needed for a larger casino.

Once the permanent casino opens, the building at Hoadley Road will revert to a purely governmental building.

In the meantime, Crystal Shores Casino will determine how strong the demand for casino gaming in the area is.

Churchill Downs Took Michigan’s Regulator to Court

Speaking of Michigan, Churchill Downs, an American horse race betting giant, just initiated legal proceedings against the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB). The lawsuit came in the wake of the suspension of TwinSpires, Churchill Downs’ online betting platform.

The gaming company questioned whether the regulator truly had the authority to restrict its race betting brand and alleged that its rules might violate federal laws.

In the meantime, the MGCB announced that the two individuals behind an illegal storefront casino in Flint have been sentenced. Linos Antonio Kas-Mikha, 52, of Grand Blanc, and Robert Jamerson, 55, of Saginaw, pleaded guilty to a count of conducting a gambling operation without a license. Thanks to their guilty pleas, the two men avoided a harsher punishment and were handed 12 months of probation.