In 2005, the Little Traverse Bay Band of Odawa Indians made enough money to pay out Emmet County roughly $1.1 million. They paid in the form of two checks, one for the first half of the year of $538,958 and the second, recent, one for $598,958. Needless to say, the county is pretty happy with the tribe – for they get 2% of the slot machines and gambling at their Victories Casino. 

The casino is happy as well, for this means they are making enough money to be paying the county more each time they write them a check. Since the casino opened in 1999, they have been increasing in revenue slowly but steadily. They took in nearly $57 million on their slot machines last year alone. The state gets eight percent of that amount, with the local county getting the two, based on the compact that the tribe has with the state.  

The local government earmarks its money for different county causes and charities, so everyone ends up making out for the best. The tribe is now looking to expand from their original location, and want to build a new slot machine casino next summer in Bear Creek Township.

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