In Mount Clemens, no vote is scheduled, but Mayor Quinnie Cody says a casino may be the perfect complement to the Macomb County seat's already bustling nightlife. The fight for a possible casino was created after Detroit, which already has three casinos, agreed not to try to block another casino in the area. The Sault Ste. Marie tribe of Chippewa Indians has the rights to place a casino in either Romulus, Flint or Monroe under a land claims agreement agreed to by former Gov. John Engler shortly before he left office in December 2002.

Michigan is home to 17 Indian casinos and more could be in the works, as proposals have also emerged in Petoskey, Grand Rapids and Battle Creek. Any casino proposal must be approved by voters in the community in which it will be located, must be operated by a Michigan tribe and needs Congressional approval for the transfer of the land in question to the tribal government.

US Rep. John Dingell, D-Dearborn, introduced a bill in the US House in July to win approval of the land settlement and Romulus casino. No bill exists for Flint or Mount Clemens.

At least one Michigan congressman, US Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Brighton, has vowed to block any legislation that would allow more casinos in the state. "Our goal is to go to Romulus, but who knows what might happen?" says Steve Mitchell, spokesman for the Sault tribe. "We're keeping all our options open."

In Romulus, voters approved a plan that calls for a $350 million casino/hotel complex. The Flint casino proposal would also be part of a larger development that would include a convention center, hotel, indoor water park, movie theaters, golf course and condominiums. No firm details on a Mount Clemens proposal has been put forward. The city council in Mount Clemens has not yet voted on any casino plan.

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Three Michigan Cities Consider Casinos

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