WAYLAND, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – Despite being shutdown for nearly three months at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Gun Lake Casino in Allegan County is still paying out over $5.7 million in fall revenue sharing payments.
The State of Michigan received $3,293,020 and the local revenue sharing board received $1,475,308. GLIMI, an economic development entity that pursues non-gaming economic development and job creation, received $987,906.
The figures are calculated from electronic gaming revenues reported from April 1, 2020 to September 30, 2020. The fall revenue sharing distribution total of $5,756,234 is the lowest ever for Gun Lake Casino in a six-month period. The spring 2020 payments totaled $7.9 million.
The Gun Lake Tribe has now shared more than $98 million with the State of Michigan, which directs the payments to the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. The MEDC in turn awards grants to businesses to invest in Michigan and create jobs.
The Tribe’s state revenue sharing payments are dependent on the continued preservation of exclusive gaming rights within its competitive market area, as defined by the tribal-state gaming compact, which also includes statewide expansion of certain lottery games. The market area includes the cities of Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, and Lansing, as well as the entire counties of Kent, Kalamazoo, and Ingham, among others.
The Local Revenue Sharing Board receives and administers the semi-annual payments. The gaming compact prescribes mandatory funding to local municipalities for: costs incurred due to the operation of the casino; public safety services; and replacement of tax revenue.
The local payments are made under terms of the gaming compact independent of gaming exclusivity. Local payments now total more than $35 million since 2011.
