FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

THE POKAGON BAND TARGETS JUNE 15 TO REOPEN ITS FOUR WINDS CASINOS

DOWAGIAC, Mich. – June 1, 2020 – The Pokagon Gaming Authority announced today that it is targeting Monday, June 15 to reopen its Four Winds Casino locations in Michigan and Indiana. The Four Winds Casinos Operations Team has been working closely with the Pokagon Gaming Authority, the Pokagon Gaming Commission and the Pokagon Health Task Force to develop a reopening plan. Pending approval of the plan from the Pokagon Gaming Commission and notification to the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC), Four Winds Casinos will proceed to reopen. The Pokagon Gaming Commission hearing is currently scheduled for June 8.

Commenting on the reopening planning process, Matthew Wesaw, Tribal Council Chairman and CEO of Pokagon Gaming Authority said, “We’ve been closely monitoring the data related to the spread of COVID-19, consulting with medical experts, and evaluating the potential impact the virus could have on our community and employees. Although we are a Sovereign Nation, we’ve also considered recommendations from the Federal Government, Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and Governors from both Michigan and Indiana, before setting June 15 as our target date for reopening. It is possible that this date could change due to a resurgence in COVID-19 cases, but we will continue to monitor the situation as we work towards this reopening goal.”

Frank Freedman, Chief Operating Officer of Four Winds Casinos, added, “In anticipation of finalizing the details and receiving approval of our reopening plan from the Pokagon Gaming Authority and Pokagon Gaming Commission, we’ve started the process to recall Four Winds Casino employees. We look forward to sharing the details of our reopening plan once they are approved so our guests know what to expect and have an enjoyable entertainment experience when visiting one of our Four Winds Casinolocations once we reopen.”

About The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians

The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians’ sovereignty was reaffirmed under legislation signed into law by President Clinton in September of 1994. The Pokagon Band is dedicated to providing community development initiatives such as housing, education, family services, medical care and cultural preservation for its more than 5,700 citizens. The Pokagon Band’s ten-county service area includes four counties in Southwestern Michigan and six in Northern Indiana. Its main administrative offices are located in Dowagiac, Mich., with a satellite office in South Bend, Ind. In 2007, it opened Four Winds Casino Resort in New Buffalo, Mich., followed by Four Winds Hartford in 2011, Four Winds Dowagiac in 2013 and Four Winds South Bend in January 2018. The Pokagon Band operates a variety of businesses via Mno-Bmadsen, its non-gaming investment enterprise. More information is available at www.pokagonband-nsn.gov, www.fourwindscasino.com and www.mno-bmadsen.com