Michigan
Casino Future Shaky
As reported by the Battle
Creek Enquirer: "An increase in casinos
and a decrease in revenue, as well as the questionable
use of tax-exempt bonds to build hotels and
golf courses, appears to have shaken up the
future of the casino business.
"The national changes haven't
yet reached the local level, though, and a spokeswoman
for the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi
said she doesn't anticipate any changes in the
tribe's plans for the FireKeepers Casino in
Emmett Township.
"Nationwide, Indian gambling revenues
grew to about $19 billion in 2004, up 12 percent
from 2003, but the growth rate has slowed, according
to a report by Analysis Group, a Los Angeles
consulting firm, and several states have been
affected, including Michigan.
"Casino development experts said the recent
decline in revenues is due, in part, to a casino
expansion boom that has thinned the customer
base for planned casinos in an environment of
fierce competition, dooming some operations
to failures.
"The casino crunch doesn't appear to be
slowing plans for a local gaming establishment…"
|
