Four Winds Casinos

Four Winds Casinos and hotel
IndustryGambling
Headquarters,
Area served
Midwestern United States
OwnerPokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians
Websitewww.fourwindscasino.com

The Four Winds Casinos are a set of casinos located in the states of Indiana and Michigan in the United States. The casinos are owned by the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians. The primary property is located in New Buffalo Township, Michigan, with satellite locations in Hartford, Michigan; Dowagiac, Michigan; and South Bend, Indiana.

History

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In 2007, as a federally recognized tribe, the Pokagon Band were able to develop and Four Winds New Buffalo on the Pokagon Reservation, in New Buffalo Township in accordance with the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act and a compact with Michigan.[1][2] A second, satellite casino, Four Winds Hartford, opened on August 30, 2011,[3] and a third, Four Winds Dowagiac,[4] opened April 30, 2013.[5][6]

The band was limited to three casinos by its 2008 compact with the state of Michigan. It has since constructed a casino on lands that it claimed qualified for gaming pursuant to specific provisions of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, in South Bend, Indiana.[7] The band announced plans in 2012 to build this 164-acre "tribal village", which includes housing, healthcare, and government facilities, and a casino and hotel.[8] Four Winds South Bend opened January 16, 2018.[9][10] In 2022, the South Bend location expanded to 98,000 square feet and features 1900 slot machines on its gaming floor, the most in Indiana.[11] Four Winds South Bend's hotel opened March 1, 2023.[12]

Properties

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Stained glass entryway of Four Winds New Buffalo in March 2008

Four Winds Casinos includes these properties:

Name Location Opened Notes
Four Winds New Buffalo New Buffalo Township, Michigan August 2, 2007 (2007-08-02) [1][2]
Four Winds Hartford Hartford, Michigan August 30, 2011 (2011-08-30) [3]
Four Winds Dowagiac Dowagiac, Michigan April 30, 2013 (2013-04-30) [6]
Four Winds South Bend South Bend, Indiana January 16, 2018 (2018-01-16) [9][10]

Marketing

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Entrance to Four Winds Field at Coveleski Stadium in July 2015

The casinos utilize a loyalty program, known as the W♣ Players Club or simply the W Club.[13]

On September 5, 2013, a ten-year naming agreement between the casinos and what became known as the Four Winds Field at Coveleski Stadium was announced.[14]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Lauren Viera (25 November 2007). "New Buffalo casino brings a crowd to Harbor Country". Chicago Tribune. Turtle Talk. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
  2. ^ a b Tom Moor (1 July 2011). "Four Winds Casino expanding". South Bend Tribune. southbendtribune.com. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
  3. ^ a b Lersten, Andrew (29 December 2011). "Pokagon hold 'em in Hartford Township". The Herald-Palladium. heraldpalladium.com. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
  4. ^ Haight, Debra (15 June 2012). "Pokagons Get the Green Light for Dowagiac Casino". The Herald-Palladium. heraldpalladium.com. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
  5. ^ Jones, Al (2013-04-30). "Four Winds Casino Dowagiac is Launched: What Do You Think?". MLive.com. Retrieved 2013-05-02.
  6. ^ a b Haight, Debra (2013-05-01). "Third Four Winds Casino Opens in Dowagiac". Harbor Country News. Retrieved 2013-05-02.
  7. ^ Whittlesey, Dennis J. (9 May 2015). "Should There be a Legislative Solution to Disputed Indian Trust Applications?". The National Law Review. Dickinson Wright PLLC. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
  8. ^ "Pokagon tribe proposes casino in South Bend". Post-Tribune. Gary. AP. August 29, 2012. Archived from the original on October 12, 2012. Retrieved 2012-09-09.
  9. ^ a b Pierce, Melinda; Klinedinst, Jill (2018-01-16). "The Pokagon Band Of Potawatomi Indians Opens Four Winds Casino South Bend" (Press release). Four Winds Casinos. Retrieved 2018-01-19.
  10. ^ a b Peterson, Mark (2018-01-16). "Thousands flock to Four Winds opening". WNDU-TV. Retrieved 2018-01-19.
  11. ^ Carden, Dan (September 12, 2022). "South Bend casino now offers more slot machines than any other in Indiana". The Times of Northwest Indiana.
  12. ^ Peterson, Mark (March 1, 2023). "South Bend Four Winds Casino Hotel officially opens". WNDU-TV. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
  13. ^ "W Club Casino Players Club". fourwindscasino.com. Four Winds Casinos. Retrieved 2015-07-13.
  14. ^ Lesar, Al (September 6, 2013). "Four Winds, Silver Hawks strike 10-year deal". South Bend Tribune. Retrieved 2015-07-13.
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