Watersmeet Casino Closing
The Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians’ Northern Waters Casino Resort in Watersmeet and the Grand Traverse Bay Bands of Ottawa Indians’ two operations — Turtle Creek Casino and Hotel in Williamsburg and Leelanau Sands Casino & Lodge in Peshawbestown — did not indicate any plans to close on their respective websites. Watersmeet Travel Forum; Watersmeet Photos; Watersmeet Map; Watersmeet Guide; All Watersmeet Hotels; Watersmeet Hotel Deals; By Hotel Type. Watersmeet Motels; Watersmeet Campgrounds; Near Landmarks. Hotels near Lac Vieux Desert Resort and Casino; Near Airports. Hotels near (MQT) Sawyer Intl Airport; Hotels near (RHI) Oneida County Airport; All. The biggest gaming establishment of the State is the Potawatomi Hotel & Casino of Milwaukee. This state-of-the-art building suggests not less than 3,000 high-tech slot machines including 260 situated in a free-smoke Sky Lodge. 12 different gaming tables and an attractive Poker Room complete those latest technologies machines. Northern Waters Casino Resort, Watersmeet. 3,703 likes 221 talking about this 16,428 were here. Northern Waters Casino Resort is a picturesque resort and casino located in the beautiful Western. In order to honor our #Veterans all year long, Northern Waters Casino Resort is pleased to announce we have created preferred parking spaces in front of the #casino exclusively for those who have served.
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UPDATE: After this report was published, the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians opted to close its five Kewadin Casinos for three weeks. The story has been updated.
Most tribal gaming operations in Michigan will remain open with some modifications even as the state imposes a new round of restrictions on commercial casinos and other sectors in a move aimed at curbing spiking cases of COVID-19.
On Sunday, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s Department of Health and Human Services announced that all three commercial casino operations in Detroit will close as of Wednesday, along with in-person dining at bars and restaurants, movie theaters, indoor ice rinks and bowling alleys.
As sovereign enterprises, the 24 tribally owned casinos that operate in Michigan do not have to comply with the mandated closures. While all tribal casinos in Michigan voluntarily closed in the spring at the same time the state issued a stay-at-home order, most are planning to stay open this time around, citing enhanced protocols and their track record for safety.
Among the exceptions: Bay Mills Resort & Casinos in Brimley, Mich., which plans to close for three weeks at noon on Wednesday, Nov. 18.
“This pandemic is unpredictable,” Bay Mills Indian Community Chairman Bryan Newland said in a statement. “Fortunately, we budgeted CARES Act funds in anticipation another shutdown might occur. We believe in protecting our community and our employees.”
As of midday Wednesday, the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians also opted to voluntarily close its five Kewadin Casinos in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, with an expected reopening date of Dec. 9.
However, most other tribal gaming operations say they believe their precautions make it safe to remain open during the current spike in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations.
“We are confident that the recent significant increase in the number of positive COVID-19 cases is not being influenced by FireKeepers’ operations because of the mitigation steps we have taken and which we continue to rigorously enforce,” Kathy George, CEO of Battle Creek, Mich.-based FireKeepers Casino Hotel, said in a statement provided to Tribal Business News.
FireKeepers, which is owned and operated by the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi, will remain open under its “strict protocols,” and will continue to “vigilantly review these protocols in cooperation with health officials and the Tribe’s Gaming Regulators to determine if additional controls or actions are needed to support the effort to slow down the spread of this virus,” George said.
The Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe’s gaming facilities also will remain open, while the tribe plans to redouble “successful” safety measures already in place.
“We do not believe that closing the Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort, Saganing Eagles Landing Casino & Hotel and The Slot Palace & Bingo Hall will reduce the spread of the Coronavirus. Should new information emerge that indicates otherwise, we will revisit this decision,” the tribe said in a statement.
The Pokagon Band of Potawtomi’s Four Winds Casinos in Southwest Michigan will also remain open under various safety guidelines.
“Like other governments we are continually monitoring the spread of COVID-19 and have taken extensive health and safety precautions to help protect our Tribal Citizens, our employees that work in our Tribal Government, as well as our Four Winds Casinos employees, and guests that visit our four casino locations in Michigan and Indiana,” according to a statement from the Pokagon Gaming Authority, which added that it “will continue to be diligent with the current safety and sanitation procedures as the health and safety of our employees and guests remains our top priority.”
The Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians’ Northern Waters Casino Resort in Watersmeet and the Grand Traverse Bay Bands of Ottawa Indians’ two operations — Turtle Creek Casino and Hotel in Williamsburg and Leelanau Sands Casino & Lodge in Peshawbestown — did not indicate any plans to close on their respective websites.
The closures of the commercial casinos come amid growing concern from state officials and health systems across the state that the escalating caseload could soon overrun the capacity for hospitals. As of Nov. 15, the statewide positivity rate for COVID-19 reached an average of 12.5 percent, Chief Medical Executive Dr. Joneigh Khaldun said in a press conference, noting the virus was “spreading like wildfire.” Health experts say the test positivity rate should be around 3 percent to manage the spread of the virus, regional business publication MiBizreported. As of Tuesday, the state reported a total of 272,034 positive cases of COVID-19 and 8,128 deaths.
As cases continued to rise, some tribes opted to take certain actions to help to limit possible exposure.
For example, the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi (Gun Lake Tribe) has reduced hours of operation at Gun Lake Casino in Wayland, Mich., located about 25 miles south of Grand Rapids, the state’s second-largest city where cases have been surging beyond levels experienced in the initial spring wave of the virus.
Instead of being open 24 hours a day, Gun Lake Casino will now close between 5 a.m. and 9 a.m. As part of its “Play It Safe” initiative that takes effect on Nov. 20 and runs until Dec. 9, Gun Lake Casino also placed plexiglass barriers between slot machines or spaced them out to maintain distance between patrons and closed all bars and restaurants. Additionally, the casino closed its retail sportsbook counter and most table games, except for the High Limit Room, which will have limited occupancy.
“Gun Lake Casino is a critical business to the Gun Lake Tribe and to the local communities that we serve,” said Alexis Bolo, the operation’s community and public relations coordinator. “We are proud to provide financial stability and healthcare benefits for over 900 Team Members, which will continue during this time.”
At the Little River Casino Resort in Manistee, near the Lake Michigan shoreline, the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians reduced hours of operation to 8 a.m.-10 p.m., effective Nov. 17 until “at least” Dec. 8. Little River also closed all table games, turned off every other slot machine where distancing was not possible and closed its retail sportsbook, although on-site sports betting will be available.
Little River Casino, along with Gun Lake Casino, also widely banned smoking in most indoor areas.
Larry Romanelli, ogema of the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, said tribal officials carefully considered its options this week, all while the effects of the spring closure continue to weigh heavily on the tribe.
“As you know, business is tough and LRBOI wants to assist the Governor and also help keep citizens safe but we are also up against decreased revenues from closing before,” Romanelli said in an email to Tribal Business News.
According to previous estimates from MiBiz, Michigan tribes are believed to have lost more than $200 million during six to eight weeks of closures beginning in March 2020. Gaming revenue generally accounts for a significant portion of tribes’ operating budgets, which fund various services, ranging from health care and education to public safety and housing.
Elsewhere in Michigan, the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community closed table games at its Ojibwa Casinos in Marquette and Baraga and the Hannahville Indian Community canceled all bands and entertainment through Dec. 10 and switched restaurants to take-out at its Island Resort & Casino in the Upper Peninsula town of Harris. Likewise, the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians canceled entertainment and closed its sports bar at Petoskey-based Odawa Casino.
A common theme in all the tribal casinos’ plans is a commitment to following best practices and guidance aimed at keeping people safe. To some tribal leaders, the only safe option is shutting down.
In a statement to Tribal Business News, Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians Chairperson Aaron Payment said he supports “shutting down all non essential operations in collaboration with the Governor’s order to stave off the spread of this deadly virus during an exponential outbreak.”
“If we save just one life, especially an Elder, it will be worth it,” Payment said.
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Tribal Business News Publisher Levi Rickert contributed to this report.
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EDITOR’S NOTE: This story has been updated with comment from the Pokagon Gaming Authority and to note that after this report was published, the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa opted to close it five Kewadin Casinos.
Watersmeet Casino Closing Casinos
A Michigan tribal casino in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula has temporarily re-closed because of concerns about the spread of coronavirus.
Northern Waters Casino in Watersmeet, near the Wisconsin border, closed Aug. 5 with plans to reopen a week later after a “cooling-off period.”
However, less than 24 hours before Thursday’s scheduled reopening, Northern Waters announced it would remain closed indefinitely.
Northern Waters is operated by the Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, one of 12 federally recognized tribes in Michigan.
Upper Peninsula experiencing COVID-19 spike
As of Thursday, Michigan reported735 confirmed coronavirus cases in the Upper Peninsula, including 18 deaths. There were also 96 probable cases.
Watersmeet’s Gogebic County has had a recent spike, reaching 100 cumulative cases this month. That number was at 122 on Thursday, including one death.
In a written statement on Wednesday, Northern Waters Casino General Manager Michael J. Broderick said there was no planned reopening date.
“This decision was not… easy,” Broderick wrote. “It was one that considered the ever-changing situation that we and the community as a whole is in with the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent number of cases in the area.”
Northern Waters closed for just two months in spring
Northern Waters was one of Michigan’s final casinos to close on March 21 because of the spreading virus.
Then, it was Michigan’s second casino of 26 to reopen on May 22.
“At this time, we do not have a specific date to reopen but will let you know when that date is as soon as we can. And when we say ‘soon,’ we mean it!” Broderick wrote. “We know how much you miss your favorite place to play in the UP and we want to make sure it continues to be a ‘safe bet,’ plus we really miss you too!”
All but one of the state’s 23 tribal casinos reopened before the trio of casinos in Detroit reopened last week in southeast Michigan.
Watersmeet Casino Closing Today
According to the COVID-19 Casino Tracker compiled by the American Gaming Association, 139 casinos were closed(14.0%) nationwide Thursday, while 851 were open.
Meanwhile, the tribe’s Lac Vieux Desert Golf Course, as well as the convenience store and service station, will remain open for now.
Watersmeet Casino And Resort
Northern Waters is not the first Midwest casino to reopen and then close again. For one, Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh closed for two days and then reopened on July 10 after an uptick in western Pennsylvania cases.
PointsBet sportsbook coming later in Watersmeet
The Lac Vieux Desert tribe was one of Michigan’s first to announce a sportsbook partnership after Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed expanded gambling laws late in 2019, permitting sports betting.
PointsBet Sportsbook has partnered with the tribe for its online gambling operations in Michigan.
In addition to mobile sports betting, the partnership includes the Australian company’s first plans to launch an online casino. The Jan. 6 announcement also indicated the tribe and PointsBet were in negotiations for a retail sportsbook.
Watersmeet Casino Closing Michigan
Online gambling is expected to launch in Michigan later this year.