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| Tuesday, March 29, 2005 | (No comments posted.)
A federal judge's ruling has put a proposed tribal casino in New Buffalo, Mich., back on track. That's not good news for the Northwest Indiana casinos.
The Pokagon Band of the Potawatomi Indians plans to build a 144,000-square-foot casino just 10 miles from the Blue Chip Casino riverboat in nearby Michigan City.
U.S. District Court Judge James Robertson's ruling late Thursday leaves it up to the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs to determine whether sufficient study of the casino's impact on the community has been conducted.
The effect on the community must be studied carefully. Unless revenue from the casino will significantly improve the local quality of life, it shouldn't even be considered.
In addition, the casino's effect on a broader area should be a subject of concern.
Riverboat casinos' admissions and wagering taxes are the third-highest revenue source for Indiana government, according to Indiana Department of Revenue figures. Sales and income taxes are the top two sources.
The Pokagon casino would siphon money from existing casinos in Northwest Indiana, especially the Blue Chip.
Let's face it. The market for this industry is limited. Adding a casino so close to its competitors merely redistributes the money already spent by existing gamblers. It does not generate increased demand for the service.
Indiana, which brought Las Vegas-style gambling to this end of Lake Michigan as a means of helping economically troubled areas, carefully regulates casino operations.
Land-based casinos like the ones the Pokagons propose are not allowed in Indiana. Even if the riverboat casinos no longer cruise Lake Michigan, they still are limited by having to pass U.S. Coast Guard inspections.
No such restrictions would apply to the New Buffalo tribal casino. Unlike its Indiana competitors, the New Buffalo casino could add additional space for concerts, more slot machines and roulette wheels or other attractions with relative ease.
Helping the tribe is one thing. Helping it to the detriment of existing casinos is another.
Letting this casino go forward would not be good for Northwest Indiana's casinos or the region's residents.
Your opinion, please
Should the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians build a casino in New Buffalo, Mich.?
Share your thoughts at http://www.nwitimes.com/youropinion.>
Your opinion, please
Should the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians build a casino in New Buffalo, Mich.?
Share your thoughts at www.nwitimes.com/youropinion.
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