Oklahoma
Tribe Bets on Casino
As reported by the Joplin Globe:
"What was a barren piece of farmland two
weeks ago is now a huge concrete pad with the
beginning of a steel structure. By mid-May,
it will be home to the Four Winds Casino, a
$20 million project by the Ottawa Tribe.
"The
casino, the first to be Las Vegas-style, will
employ 150 people initially. It also will generate
revenue the tribe says will go to social services
provided to Ottawa members.
"But,
it will do something else. It will contribute
to the transformation of Miami into a travel
destination. It's a change that has been going
on for several years. What's different now is
that it appears to be gaining momentum. Though
some are saying Miami is unlikely to become
a new Branson, others are saying: Don't bet
on it.
"Brian
Barger, director of economic development for
Miami, said the casinos that exist in the county
probably employ well over 1,000 people. The
tribes, he said, have invested close to $200
million.
"…Gary
Green is the Las Vegas-based gambling consultant
who has been hired to help bring the Four Winds
Casino to life on Highway 10, 4.5 miles east
of Miami. The casino initially will have 400
machines and 16 gambling tables.
"…The
Four Winds will not have a hotel, but it will
have a park for recreational vehicles to serve
people passing through. It does have a spot
on its 80-acre tract for a hotel in the future…"
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