Tribe looks to develop floating casino off Mexico

Thursday, Feb. 17, 2005 | 9:20 a.m.

LAC DU FLAMBEAU, Wis. -- A northern Wisconsin Indian tribe that for years has talked about opening a casino in southern Wisconsin is now looking farther south -- to the waters off the coast of Mexico.

The Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa is negotiating to launch a floating casino -- The Dream Catcher ship -- in international waters near Cancun, said Carol Brown, an attorney for the tribe.

Four daily cruises from Cancun could begin as soon as April, in time to catch the spring break crowd, Brown said. The boat could generate at least $3 million in annual profits for the tribe, she said.

In December, the tribe, which runs the Lake of the Torches Casino in Lac du Flambeau, completed the purchase of 93 acres of land in southwestern Wisconsin near Shullsburg to build another casino and hotel.

The tribe said it would seek state and federal approval for the casino with an attached hotel and convention center, a project estimated to cost $80 million. A water park and 18-hole golf course also are envisioned on the property, Brown said.

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