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US – Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe opens Cedar Lake expansion

By - 15 August 2019

The Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Tribal Council has lifted the curtain on its US$50m expansion of the Cedar Lakes Casino Hotel in Cass Lake, Minnesota.

Mike Auger, Leech Lake Gaming Division director, said: “We want people to have a big city, Vegas-like experience here in northern Minnesota. It [the new casino] was voted on by the people and it came in on time and within the budget. The casino will drive revenues for the band for years to come and will be a huge economic boom for the area. It will help improve Cass Lake and the surrounding region.”

The decisions to relocate the Palace Casino Hotel closer to the city of Cass Lakewas taken back in May 2017 with the US$45m construction project starting in December 2017 and being completed in August 2019. The Palace Casino was closed July 22.

Cedar Lakes employs 400 people, an increase from the Palace, which had a staff of about 300. Those employees will have a variety of roles for the casino, as the building includes slot machines, blackjack, a 100-room hotel, a food court, a brewpub, gift shop, arcade, indoor pool and event center. Of the 400 employed, 75 per cent are from the Leech Lake Band.

National Indian Gaming Association Chairman Ernie Stevens, Jr., who joined the celebration as a keynote speaker. Stevens said, “I want to congratulate the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Tribe on this beautiful tribal gaming property. I envision great things ahead for the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Tribe and the future of this gaming enterprise and beyond. Today, we take a giant forward in Indian gaming. It is nice to see the tribal elders and youth in attendance, enjoying the grand opening festivities. It is great to see the professionalism and pride they have to be part of the new facility in Cass Lake, Minnesota.

Mr. Stevens presented a National Indian Gaming Association Chairman’s Leadership award to Helen Bryan, who is an enrolled member of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe. Mr. Stevens said; “It is the Bryan v. Itasca County Supreme Court case that played a significant role in the legal proceedings centered around early gaming development. Former National Indian Gaming Association Executive Director Mark Van Norman was on hand to give a quick, informative analysis and overview of these recognitions of tribal sovereignty in the Supreme court.

“Legal struggles aside,” Mr. Stevens said, “The best result here was a clear understanding of what tribal sovereignty and government-to-government relationships meant. Which, on a majority basis – to have mutual service agreements and a clear understanding of rights, responsibilities, and roles in tribal government gaming.”

The casino broke a world record as part of its grand opening by making an Indian taco weighing over 350 pounds and measuring eight feet in diameter.

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