Michigan Tribal Casino Re-Closes After COVID-19 Spike In Upper Peninsula

Written By Matt Schoch on August 14, 2020Last Updated on September 25, 2020

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Due to concerns surrounding the spread of coronavirus, a tribal casino located in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula has decided to temporarily close once again.

After temporarily shutting down on August 5th, Northern Waters Casino in Watersmeet, located near the Wisconsin border, has scheduled to reopen a week later following a designated “cooling-off period.”

Nevertheless, with less than a day left until the planned reopening on Thursday, Northern Waters surprised everyone by declaring that it would indefinitely remain closed.

The Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, one of the twelve federally recognized tribes in Michigan, operates Northern Waters.

Upper Peninsula experiencing COVID-19 spike

By Thursday, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan had tallied 735 confirmed cases of coronavirus, with 18 fatalities. Additionally, the region recorded 96 probable cases.

As of Thursday, the cumulative number of COVID-19 cases in Watersmeet’s Gogebic County has reached 122, with one reported death. This marks a recent spike in cases, as the total number for this month alone has now reached 100.

Northern Waters Casino General Manager Michael J. Broderick stated in a written statement on Wednesday that there is currently no scheduled date for the reopening.

Broderick wrote that the decision was far from being easy. He explained that it took into account the constantly evolving situation surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent surge in cases within the community.

Northern Waters closed for just two months in spring

Due to the rapid spread of the virus, Northern Waters became one of the last casinos in Michigan to shut down on March 21.

On May 22, Michigan’s second casino out of a total of 26 reopened.

“We currently don’t have a set reopening date, but we promise to inform you as soon as we have one. And when we say ‘soon,’ we genuinely mean it!” Broderick expressed. “We understand how much you long for your beloved spot to have fun in the UP, and we are determined to ensure it remains a secure choice. Moreover, we sincerely miss you too!”

Last week, the trio of casinos in southeast Michigan reopened after all but one of the state’s 23 tribal casinos had already reopened.

On Thursday, as per the American Gaming Association’s COVID-19 Casino Tracker, 139 casinos (14.0% of the total) were shut down across the country, while 851 remained open.

For the time being, the Lac Vieux Desert Golf Course, along with the convenience store and service station belonging to the tribe, will continue to operate.

Before Northern Waters, another Midwest casino, Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh, experienced a similar sequence of events. It temporarily closed for two days due to a rise in COVID-19 cases in western Pennsylvania, but subsequently reopened on July 10.

PointsBet sportsbook coming later in Watersmeet

After the signing of expanded gambling laws in late 2019, allowing sports betting in Michigan, the Lac Vieux Desert tribe swiftly became one of the first to declare their sportsbook partnership, marking a significant milestone for the tribe.

The tribe has joined forces with PointsBet Sportsbook for its online gambling operations in Michigan.

The collaboration between the tribe and PointsBet encompasses not only mobile sports betting but also involves the Australian company’s debut in the online casino industry. Furthermore, the Jan. 6 statement revealed that the tribe and PointsBet were discussing the potential establishment of a physical sportsbook.

The anticipated launch of online gambling in Michigan is set for later this year.

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