More Michigan Casino Reopenings Could Be Coming Following Gov. Whitmer’s New Order

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Written By Matt Schoch on May 18, 2020Last Updated on March 16, 2022
Michigan casinos reopening

Can you please rewrite the following sentence for me? <br><br>Original sentence: “I am not able to attend the meeting tomorrow due to a personal commitment.”

Following a new directive from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Monday, it is possible that additional casinos in Michigan will be opening soon.

Whitmer’s announcement regarding the partial reopening of the state could potentially motivate the sovereign tribes operating the state’s tribal casinos, although they already have the authority to reopen them.

On Monday, the governor declared that bars and restaurants in the Upper Peninsula and 17 counties in the northern Lower Peninsula will experience a relaxation of restrictions beginning on Friday.

This implies that out of the 26 casinos in the state, 16 of them will be located in regions where bars and restaurants can freely operate, perfectly timed for the Memorial Day weekend. This holiday typically marks the beginning of summer and serves as a reminder for numerous Michigan residents to open their seasonal homes in the “Up North” area.

Gov. Whitmer partially reopens 2 of state’s 8 regions

The U.P. and the Traverse City Region were affected by Whitmer’s announcement.

Under the plan, numerous establishments, such as bars and restaurants, will be allowed to resume operations at a limited capacity of up to 50%. These businesses must ensure that their employees are trained in safety protocols and maintain a minimum distance of 6 feet between groups. It is important to note that wearing masks is still mandatory.

During the Monday press briefing, Whitmer acknowledged that taking this action right before the holiday weekend is significant. She emphasized the importance of making wise decisions and prioritizing safety. Rather than impulsively rushing out, she urged everyone to remain cautious and avoid necessitating another closure.

In the reopened regions, social gatherings with a maximum of 10 individuals are allowed, but overnight accommodations are not permitted.

Which Michigan casinos could be reopen next?

In Michigan, the U.P. region is home to eleven out of the total twenty-three tribal casinos, located north of the Mackinac Bridge.

The future is uncertain regarding how many out of the remaining 10 will choose to follow the example set by Island Resort and Casino in Harris, as it reopened on Saturday.

The five Kewadin Casinos located across the U.P. have scheduled their reopening for June 1st. However, there has been no announcement regarding the reopening plans for the other five U.P. casinos, which include two Ojibwa Casinos in the western U.P., the Bay Mills casinos in Brimley, and Northern Waters Casino Resort in Watersmeet.

Furthermore, Monday’s announcement has affected five casinos located in counties within the Lower Peninsula.

The casinos include Leelanau Sands Casino located in Peshawbestown, Little River Casino and Resort situated in Manistee, Turtle Creek Casino and Hotel found in Williamsburg, and Odawa Casinos present in Mackinaw City and Petoskey.

As of Monday afternoon, none of them had announced any reopening dates.

Tribes and state officials working together

Monday’s announcement does not affect the seven tribal casinos situated across the state, as well as the three commercial casinos located in Detroit.

As of Monday afternoon, there have been no announcements made regarding the reopening dates of any of those tribal casinos.

Last week, Playinmichigan was informed by a spokesperson from Mount Pleasant’s Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort, the state’s largest tribal casino, that the meeting between Governor Whitmer and tribal leaders regarding the reopening of casinos was successful.

The Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe’s spokesperson, Frank Cloutier, expressed their willingness to collaborate with the governor’s office in developing a reopening strategy.

Detroit casinos still closed indefinitely

Whitmer’s Stay Home order mandates the closure of businesses including casinos in Detroit until at least May 28th.

There is a possibility of extended closure for commercial properties, and even upon reopening, capacity restrictions might be imposed.

MGM Resorts International recently unveiled a comprehensive Seven-Point Plan outlining the reopening strategy for properties like MGM Grand Detroit.

Furthermore, Penn National Gaming, the parent company of Greektown Casino-Hotel, has declared its implementation of safety measures in order to reopen properties responsibly.

Promising COVID-19 numbers throughout Michigan

For the ninth consecutive day, Michigan has reported deaths from the coronavirus in the double digits.

Typically, Mondays witness a decline in numbers, but the recorded deaths of 24 individuals were some of the lowest in the previous two months.

According to the Johns Hopkins University & Medicine Coronavirus Resource Center, the state ranks seventh in the country in terms of COVID-19 cases and fourth in terms of deaths, with a total of 4,915 fatalities.

Can you please rewrite your statement or provide the original statement for me to rewrite?

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