Tribe criticized over plan for new casino

Friday, Jan. 10, 2003 | 9:55 a.m.

DETROIT -- Greektown Casino owners, some local investors and city officials criticized plans by Greektown's majority owner to open a new gambling hall in southeast Michigan.

A deal between former Gov. John Engler and the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, an Upper Peninsula tribe owning 90 percent of Greektown, would allow the tribe to open two casinos in exchange for settling a land dispute.

One of the sites could be in Romulus, Monroe County or Flint. And that's too close for comfort for some of Greektown's local investors.

"The city of Detroit has supported the tribe all this time, and here the tribe is pursuing a casino competing with Detroit," Chris Jackson, who owns or has options on 2 percent of Greektown, told The Detroit News.

"It shows a lack of loyalty to the citizens of Detroit."

The tribe, however, said even if a casino is added to any of the three markets, it will be little competition for Detroit.

"We support Detroit and the area. We'll continue to do that, and we'll continue to develop casinos," said John Hatch, a spokesman for the tribe, which also owns five Upper Peninsula casinos. "Detroit is a great market that'll continue to grow. It's bulletproof."