First Casino Reopening Coming Friday To Michigan’s Lower Peninsula

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Written By Matt Schoch on May 20, 2020
Michigan casinos reopening

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Reopenings of casinos in Michigan are extending to the Lower Peninsula.

There is currently one gaming facility operational in the Upper Peninsula, and another one is scheduled to reopen this Friday as per the announcement.

On that very day, the Odawa Casino in Mackinaw City will make history as the inaugural casino to open in the Lower Peninsula.

After the COVID-19 pandemic forced the closure of all 26 casinos in Michigan by March 22, the Odawa location would become the third to reopen.

The casino is operated by the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, who are among the 12 federally recognized and sovereign tribes in the state.

Odawa Mackinaw opens Friday; Petoskey next week

On Wednesday, the Odawa casinos made an announcement stating that the Mackinaw City branch is scheduled to open on Friday at 10 a.m., while the Petoskey branch is set to open on May 29th at 10 a.m.

The openings were announced two days after Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declared a partial reopening for a significant portion of northern Michigan on Friday. Monday’s announcement brought about a partial reopening of the U.P. and the Traverse City Region, encompassing both Odawa locations.

On Monday, Whitmer made an announcement stating that bars and restaurants in the regions can reopen on Friday, with a maximum capacity of 50%. This news arrives perfectly timed for the Memorial Day weekend, a crucial holiday for the local tourism economy.

Reservations for the reopening of Odawa’s hotel at the Petoskey location will be available starting June 1, with the actual reopening scheduled for June 11.

Little River Casino in Manistee made an announcement on Thursday night, stating that it will be opening its doors at 8 a.m. on June 1st.

Tribes, state officials appear to be cooperating

After some public concern, state officials and tribal leaders in Michigan have engaged in discussions regarding reopening timelines and strategies, despite the fact that Whitmer’s orders do not apply to Native American tribes in the state.

The planned reopening of Island Resort and Casino was delayed due to the intervention of Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, who issued warnings of potential legal consequences, both civil and criminal.

Despite the discussions about reopening, a U.P. congressman has put forth a resolution to reaffirm the sovereignty of tribal nations, while also condemning Nessel’s implied threat towards the Hannahville Indian Community.

Safety precautions coming for Odawa openings

Odawa, similar to other establishments, has declared a comprehensive set of safety measures that will be implemented. These precautions encompass conducting temperature checks for both team members and guests upon arrival, practicing social distancing, mandating the use of masks, and prohibiting smoking.

“In accordance with the advice of public health experts, we will be reopening in stages,” stated Ron Olson, General Manager of Odawa. “Upon our doors reopening, there will be noticeable changes in our operations.”

The Mackinaw location exclusively allows entry for individuals aged 21 and above, whereas the Petoskey location permits entry for those aged 19 and above.

Limited seating will be available for table games at the Petoskey location when it opens.

Pair will be fourth reopened Michigan casinos

Island Resort and Casino in Harris debuted on Saturday in the U.P., while Northern Waters Casino Resort in Watersmeet is set to open on Friday as well.

The opening date for five Kewadin Casino locations in the U.P. has been set for June 1, while two Bay Mills casino locations in Brimley have confirmed their closure until the end of May.

Whitmer’s latest statewide order applies to Detroit’s three commercial casinos, requiring them to adhere to its guidelines. Additionally, the order urges a majority of businesses in the state to continue their closure until at least May 28th.

According to the American Gaming Association website’s COVID-19 Casino Tracker, there were 100 operational casinos across the country on Wednesday afternoon, while 889 casinos remained closed.

State’s COVID-19 numbers continue positive trends

This week, Michigan achieved a significant milestone of surpassing 5,000 COVID-19 deaths, and the data reflects an ongoing encouraging trend.

Compared to the past few months, Wednesday saw a relatively low number of 43 new deaths announced from the pandemic in the state.

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