Watersmeet Casino Closing
A Michigan tribal casino in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula has temporarily re-closed because of concerns about the spread of coronavirus.
The Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians’ Northern Waters Casino Resort in Watersmeet and the Grand Traverse Bay Bands of Ottawa Indians’ two operations — Turtle Creek Casino and Hotel in Williamsburg and Leelanau Sands Casino & Lodge in Peshawbestown — did not indicate any plans to close on their respective websites. The biggest gaming establishment of the State is the Potawatomi Hotel & Casino of Milwaukee. This state-of-the-art building suggests not less than 3,000 high-tech slot machines including 260 situated in a free-smoke Sky Lodge. 12 different gaming tables and an attractive Poker Room complete those latest technologies machines. Watersmeet, MI 49969 Phone: 906-358-4226 and 800-895-2505 Website: www.lvdcasino.com. Northern Waters Casino Resort can provide an all-inclusive getaway in any season. Visitors may stay in the modern 132-room Dancing Eagles Hotel connected to the Casino. It features an indoor heated pool, sauna, and whirlpool. Watersmeet Northern Waters Casino Resort The Lac Vieux Desert Resort Casino is a Native American Casino located in the township of Watersmeet, Michigan. It has 25,000 square feet gaming space, a hotel with 132 r.
Northern Waters Casino in Watersmeet, near the Wisconsin border, closed Aug. 5 with plans to reopen a week later after a “cooling-off period.”
However, less than 24 hours before Thursday’s scheduled reopening, Northern Waters announced it would remain closed indefinitely.
Northern Waters is operated by the Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, one of 12 federally recognized tribes in Michigan.
Upper Peninsula experiencing COVID-19 spike
As of Thursday, Michigan reported735 confirmed coronavirus cases in the Upper Peninsula, including 18 deaths. There were also 96 probable cases.
Watersmeet Casino Closing Today
Watersmeet’s Gogebic County has had a recent spike, reaching 100 cumulative cases this month. That number was at 122 on Thursday, including one death.
In a written statement on Wednesday, Northern Waters Casino General Manager Michael J. Broderick said there was no planned reopening date.
“This decision was not… easy,” Broderick wrote. “It was one that considered the ever-changing situation that we and the community as a whole is in with the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent number of cases in the area.”
Northern Waters closed for just two months in spring
Northern Waters was one of Michigan’s final casinos to close on March 21 because of the spreading virus.
Then, it was Michigan’s second casino of 26 to reopen on May 22.
“At this time, we do not have a specific date to reopen but will let you know when that date is as soon as we can. And when we say ‘soon,’ we mean it!” Broderick wrote. “We know how much you miss your favorite place to play in the UP and we want to make sure it continues to be a ‘safe bet,’ plus we really miss you too!”
All but one of the state’s 23 tribal casinos reopened before the trio of casinos in Detroit reopened last week in southeast Michigan.
According to the COVID-19 Casino Tracker compiled by the American Gaming Association, 139 casinos were closed(14.0%) nationwide Thursday, while 851 were open.
Meanwhile, the tribe’s Lac Vieux Desert Golf Course, as well as the convenience store and service station, will remain open for now.
Northern Waters is not the first Midwest casino to reopen and then close again. For one, Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh closed for two days and then reopened on July 10 after an uptick in western Pennsylvania cases.
PointsBet sportsbook coming later in Watersmeet
The Lac Vieux Desert tribe was one of Michigan’s first to announce a sportsbook partnership after Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed expanded gambling laws late in 2019, permitting sports betting.
PointsBet Sportsbook has partnered with the tribe for its online gambling operations in Michigan.
In addition to mobile sports betting, the partnership includes the Australian company’s first plans to launch an online casino. The Jan. 6 announcement also indicated the tribe and PointsBet were in negotiations for a retail sportsbook.
Watersmeet Casino Michigan
Online gambling is expected to launch in Michigan later this year.