Grand Traverse Band to Open Temporary Casino in Benzie, Michigan

The Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians (GTB) is preparing to open a temporary casino in Benzie County, Michigan, marking a significant development for the tribe as it explores future opportunities in the region. The new gaming facility, named Crystal Shores casino, will debut on January 22, 2024, following a members-only soft opening on January 18-19. This will be the tribe’s third casino in Michigan, with its two other properties being Turtle Creek casino & Hotel and Leelanau Sands casino & Lodge.

Crystal Shores casino will occupy space within a government building the tribe owns at 7282 Hoadley Road in Benzonia Township, located roughly 35 miles southwest of Traverse City. The facility will feature a gaming floor of 3,213 square feet, offering slot machines but no table games. Although the gaming floor itself is small, it will accommodate approximately 250 people. In addition to the casino operations, the building will continue to serve as a space for tribal government offices, making this a hybrid use of the property.

Temporary facility with plans for a larger development:

The opening of this temporary casino is part of a larger strategy by GTB to assess the demand for a more expansive gaming facility at the site. According to Johnny Barrientoz, the CEO of Grand Traverse Resort and Casinos, the tribe plans to operate the current setup for about a year. This will allow them to gather sufficient data and gauge public interest before making a decision on expanding the casino into a larger, more permanent facility. Barrientoz emphasized that once they have a clearer picture of demand, they would likely transition the government operations back into the building and develop a new, dedicated casino elsewhere on the property.

“This is a starting point,” Barrientoz explained. “We’ll probably give it a good year so we can get accurate data and decide how to proceed with the long-term plans.”

The establishment of the new casino is expected to provide a boost to the local economy, particularly in terms of employment. The tribe has hired around 40 people to staff the casino, out of nearly 100 applicants. While the average wage for employees is expected to be around $27,000 annually, tips are expected to significantly increase earnings. Barrientoz highlighted the positive impact on the community, noting that many locals expressed their gratitude for the job opportunities, which are rare in the relatively rural area of Benzie County.

“It really didn’t hit home until we started doing job fairs down there recently,” Barrientoz said, casino-crystal-shores-opening-near-traverse-city” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>as reported by Crain’s Detroit Business. “People were really expressing their gratitude because of the limited work opportunities in this area. It’s going to change their lives and give them opportunities they didn’t have before.”

Legal and regulatory context:

The Grand Traverse Band has a longstanding presence in Michigan’s gaming industry, with its first casino, Leelanau Sands, opening in 1991. In 1993, the tribe signed a gaming compact with the state of Michigan, which allowed it to operate casinos on its trust lands. The legal framework for the new Crystal Shores casino falls under this same compact. Despite legal challenges in the past, such as when the state questioned the legality of Turtle Creek casino, a court ruling affirmed the tribe’s rights to operate its facilities on trust land.

According to John Petoskey, the tribe’s attorney, there were no objections during the mandatory 120-day review period for Crystal Shores casino by federal regulators, and the Grand Traverse Band Gaming Commission issued a gaming license for the facility in November 2023. Petoskey also expressed confidence that the Benzie County location qualifies under the same legal grounds as the tribe’s previous casino projects.

For GTB, the temporary casino is just one part of a broader effort to expand and strengthen its economic footprint in Michigan. The tribe’s current properties, Turtle Creek and Leelanau Sands, are established gaming venues, and Crystal Shores casino will help diversify its offerings in the region. Additionally, the casino’s development could further position the tribe as a significant player in Michigan’s gaming industry, which is home to 23 tribal casinos.

While Crystal Shores is a relatively modest facility, it represents a significant step in the tribe’s efforts to assess the viability of a larger-scale casino in Benzie County. As the region’s gaming landscape evolves, GTB’s ability to open new facilities without encountering the lengthy legal battles that other tribes have faced speaks to the tribe’s preparedness and solid legal footing.

Although Crystal Shores is still in its initial stages, it has already attracted attention for its potential to contribute to local economic development. According to casino-in-nearly-a-decade/” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>Crain’s Grand Rapids Business, the Little River Band and Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians have faced legal hurdles in their efforts to establish new casinos in Michigan, highlighting the complexities that many tribes must navigate to expand their gaming operations. However, GTB has had a relatively smoother path due to its existing trust land and established legal precedents.

casino in Benzie County, Eyes Future Expansion”/>casino in Benzie County, Eyes Future Expansion”/>casino-in-benzie-county-eyes-future-expansion-116828″/> casino-in-benzie-county-eyes-future-expansion-116828″/>casino-opening-for-January-22-in-temporary-quarters.jpg”/>casino in Benzie County, Michigan, marking a significant development for the tribe as it explores future opportunities in the region. The new gaming facility, named Crystal Shores casino, will debut on January 22, 2024, following a members-only soft opening on January 18-19. This will be the tribe’s third casino in Michigan, with its two other properties being Turtle Creek casino & Hotel and Leelanau Sands casino & Lodge.Crystal Shores casino will occupy space within a government building the tribe owns at 7282 Hoadley Road in Benzonia Township, located roughly 35 miles southwest of Traverse City. The facility will feature a gaming floor of 3,213 square feet, offering slot machines but no table games. Although the gaming floor itself is small, it will accommodate approximately 250 people. In addition to the casino operations, the building will continue to serve as a space for tribal government offices, making this a hybrid use of the property.Temporary facility with plans for a larger development:The opening of this temporary casino is part of a larger strategy by GTB to assess the demand for a more expansive gaming facility at the site. According to Johnny Barrientoz, the CEO of Grand Traverse Resort and Casinos, the tribe plans to operate the current setup for about a year. This will allow them to gather sufficient data and gauge public interest before making a decision on expanding the casino into a larger, more permanent facility. Barrientoz emphasized that once they have a clearer picture of demand, they would likely transition the government operations back into the building and develop a new, dedicated casino elsewhere on the property."This is a starting point," Barrientoz explained. "We’ll probably give it a good year so we can get accurate data and decide how to proceed with the long-term plans."The establishment of the new casino is expected to provide a boost to the local economy, particularly in terms of employment. The tribe has hired around 40 people to staff the casino, out of nearly 100 applicants. While the average wage for employees is expected to be around $27,000 annually, tips are expected to significantly increase earnings. Barrientoz highlighted the positive impact on the community, noting that many locals expressed their gratitude for the job opportunities, which are rare in the relatively rural area of Benzie County.“It really didn’t hit home until we started doing job fairs down there recently,” Barrientoz said, as reported by Crain’s Detroit Business. “People were really expressing their gratitude because of the limited work opportunities in this area. It’s going to change their lives and give them opportunities they didn’t have before.”Legal and regulatory context:The Grand Traverse Band has a longstanding presence in Michigan’s gaming industry, with its first casino, Leelanau Sands, opening in 1991. In 1993, the tribe signed a gaming compact with the state of Michigan, which allowed it to operate casinos on its trust lands. The legal framework for the new Crystal Shores casino falls under this same compact. Despite legal challenges in the past, such as when the state questioned the legality of Turtle Creek casino, a court ruling affirmed the tribe’s rights to operate its facilities on trust land.According to John Petoskey, the tribe’s attorney, there were no objections during the mandatory 120-day review period for Crystal Shores casino by federal regulators, and the Grand Traverse Band Gaming Commission issued a gaming license for the facility in November 2023. Petoskey also expressed confidence that the Benzie County location qualifies under the same legal grounds as the tribe’s previous casino projects.For GTB, the temporary casino is just one part of a broader effort to expand and strengthen its economic footprint in Michigan. The tribe’s current properties, Turtle Creek and Leelanau Sands, are established gaming venues, and Crystal Shores casino will help diversify its offerings in the region. Additionally, the casino‘s development could further position the tribe as a significant player in Michigan’s gaming industry, which is home to 23 tribal casinos.While Crystal Shores is a relatively modest facility, it represents a significant step in the tribe’s efforts to assess the viability of a larger-scale casino in Benzie County. As the region’s gaming landscape evolves, GTB’s ability to open new facilities without encountering the lengthy legal battles that other tribes have faced speaks to the tribe’s preparedness and solid legal footing.Although Crystal Shores is still in its initial stages, it has already attracted attention for its potential to contribute to local economic development. According to Crain’s Grand Rapids Business, the Little River Band and Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians have faced legal hurdles in their efforts to establish new casinos in Michigan, highlighting the complexities that many tribes must navigate to expand their gaming operations. However, GTB has had a relatively smoother path due to its existing trust land and established legal “/>