Little River Band Casino Facing Financial and Legal Hurdles
The Little River Band of Ottawa Indians has invested more than 14 years and $30 million in its efforts to develop a casino on a 60-acre site in Fruitport Township, near the intersection of I-96 and US 31.
Muskegon casino project faces major challenges after 14 years.
LISTEN TO THIS ARTICLE:Tribe Running Low on Money and Patience
However, despite their persistence, it seems that the project may be coming to an end before it has had a chance to take off. Ogema Larry Romanelli recently confirmed that the tribe’s financial resources and patience are running low. The proposed $180-million casino resort in Muskegon County would have been the tribe’s second gaming facility in Michigan. However, numerous setbacks have raised doubts about the project’s viability, and now the tribe are considering walking away from the effort.
The tribe’s first casino has proven successful. It provides support to its members, has created several jobs, and funded community initiatives. However, while the new casino project received approval from the US Department of the Interior, it stalled at the state level. The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act mandates that tribal land-based casino projects secure approval not only from federal authorities but also from state officials, including the governor.
Governor Gretchen Whitmer has yet to approve the project. Her hesitation is reportedly linked to the ongoing acknowledgement petition from the Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians, another Michigan-based tribe whose plans for a casino could conflict with the Little River Band’s proposal.
In 2022, Whitmer released a statement explaining her position:
Despite the strength of its proposal, however, I am unable to concur in the Little River Band’s two-part determination because of the remaining uncertainty created by the Grand River Bands’ pending acknowledgment petition.
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Problems with Federal Recognition
The situation is further complicated by the Grand River Bands’ status. While the tribe is recognized in Michigan, it does not have federal recognition, which limits its ability to operate tribal gaming under federal law.
Furthermore, the Bureau of Indian Affairs has clarified that the Grand River Bands are not federally recognized, which has weakened their legal standing in the dispute.
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