Leaders of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians welcome visitors to the Four Winds Casino in South Bend, Indiana, on January 15, 2018. Photo: Four Winds Casinos

Public Relations

Pokagon Band shares $1.2 million from gaming facility in Indiana

Monday, October 1, 2018

The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians has shared $1.2 million in gaming revenues with the local community in South Bend, Indiana.

The money comes from the Four Winds Casino in South Bend, which opened in January. It represents 2 percent of Class II gaming revenues at the facility.

“This investment in our homeland is important to us,” Chairman Matt Wesaw said in a press release. “We know that strong schools and healthcare are important to Pokagons and our neighbors. South Bend is a city with the vision to support the same quality of life we do. We look forward to a long and impactful partnership.”

According to ABC57, schools, hospitals and non-profits benefited from tribe's contribution. The city of South Bend also received a share of the funds.

The revenue sharing agreement runs for five years. it is unique in that most tribes do not share revenues from Class II games, such as bingo and electronic versions of bingo.

The tribe opened the casino after winning approval from the Bureau of Indian Affairs to acquire 166 acres within its homeland in Indiana. The land-into-trust application remains the first of its kind in the state.

Read More on the Story

Pokagon Band pays City of South Bend $1.2 million (ABC57 September 28, 2018)
Casino Revenue-Sharing Nets South Bend $1.2M (Inside Indiana Business September 28, 2018)
Pokagon Band presents first revenue-sharing check worth $1.2M to South Bend (WNDU September 28, 2018)
Pokagon non-gambling investments paying off (The South Bend Tribune September 30, 2018)

Federal Register Notices

Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians, Michigan and Indiana (November 29, 2016)
Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians Fee-to-Trust Transfer for Tribal Village and Casino, City of South Bend, St. Joseph County, Indiana (March 12, 2015)
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Pokagon Band Tribal Village Fee-to-Trust Acquisition and Casino Project in the City of South Bend, St. Joseph County, IN (August 24, 2012)