Company applauds ruling

Monday, Aug. 2, 2004 | 10:35 a.m.

Full House Resorts Inc. said a recent ruling by the Michigan Supreme Court paves the way for the company to develop a casino with a Michigan Indian tribe.

The Las Vegas company said the court ruled that the Michigan Legislature did not violate the state constitution when it approved four tribal casino compacts in 1998 by a resolution. The decision upholds a 2002 ruling by the Michigan Court of Appeals that reversed a ruling in 1999 by Ingham County Circuit Court Judge Peter Houk, the company said.

Through a subsidiary, Full House Resorts has a management agreement with the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi Indians to develop and operate a casino near Battle Creek, Mich. The company and a partner purchased about 80 acres of land last fall to build a tribal casino. The company also is pursuing other contracts with tribes.

The federal approval process for the Michigan casino was delayed by a lawsuit filed against the U.S. government by an opposition group that challenged the environmental assessment process.

"After years of development work, we are pleased by this ruling, once again affirming the right of Native Americans to join with others to further economic development," Chief Executive Andre Hilliou said.