Michigan: Little River Band of Ottawa Indians' $180M casino project in Muskegon reportedly halted

The issue centers on the intersection of tribal sovereignty, federal recognition processes, and state approvals for off-reservation gaming, according to local media reports.

The tribe has invested about 14 years and $30 million into developing the casino, which was planned for a 60-acre site in Fruitport Township near the intersection of I-96 and U.S. 31, the former location of the Great Lakes Downs racetrack.

The Grand River Bands are recognized by the state of Michigan but not by the U.S. Department of the Interior. In a letter to the Department of the Interior, Whitmer requested an extension of her deadline to decide on the casino application, hoping to wait until the federal government's decision on the Grand River Bands' recognition. The extension was denied.

"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," Whitmer stated in a letter.

The Great Lakes Downs racetrack opened in 1999 and closed in 2007. The Little River Band of Ottawa Indians purchased the property in 2008 with plans to build the casino. The planned Lakeshore Casino and Resort would have included 1,700 slot machines and 35 table games. Muskegon is one of the Little River Band's service areas.