As legal challenges wind down, additional tribal casinos are planned for the southwestern portion of the state Two Native American casinos could be open in Southwest Michigan by the middle to end of next year, creating some 5,600 jobs and millions of dollars in annual revenue to surrounding non-Indian governments, according to the Kalamazoo Gazette newspaper.

Ground could be broken as soon as this spring on both the Fire Keepers Casino in Emmett Township, just east of Battle Creek, and the Gun Lake Casino, in Wayland Township, about 35 miles north of Kalamazoo on U.S. 131.

The casinos will bring to 23 the number of commercial and tribal government casinos in Michigan.

Both projects have faced legal challenges for several years, significantly delaying their progress. The proposed casino near Battle Creek has cleared those hurdles, while a court ruling is expected soon on the Gun Lake Casino.

The Four Winds Casino Resort, in New Buffalo Township, about 70 miles west of Kalamazoo on I-94, opened Aug. 2, becoming the first casino to open in Michigan since the Greektown Casino opened in Detroit in 2000, and is doing well, according to casino officials.

"I rarely find a market with too many casinos," author and gambling expert John Gollehon told the newspaper. "There is plenty of room for growth here and plenty of players. Everyone is going to benefit."

The Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi Indians is looking forward to getting to work on the FireKeepers Casino, which will be managed by Las Vegas-based Full House Resorts Inc. Construction could begin this spring with the casino opening in mid-2009.

"This is going to be a real economic boost for the Calhoun County area," said Donna Halinski, spokesperson for the tribe. "Right now we need jobs and economic development, and this project will bring that. This is going to be a wonderful addition to the area."

The tribe estimates that the casino will attract about 3.8 million visitors per year from all over the state and generate an expected $100 million to $125 million annually.

The tribe's revenue-sharing obligations to the state and local municipalities will be met, Halinski said.

Laura Spurr, Nottawaseppi chairwoman and owner of the 79 acres of land where the casino is to be built, said the tribe can't wait to get the project underway.

"The tribe is eager to provide this economic stimulus to the county," she said.

Casino revenues will be used to provide health care, education and other social services for the 800-member Fulton-based tribe.

"It's important that we do our best to maintain our culture," Spurr said. "This revenue helps us do that."

The Gun Lake Match-E-Be-Nash-E-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians anticipate a favorable federal court ruling will allow the band to begin construction on its $200 million Gun Lake Casino.

Las Vegas-based Station Casinos will manage the property, which will employ 1,800 people.

A tribal-state compact has been approved by Gov. Jennifer Granholm and the State House of Representatives. The agreement still needs to be ratified by the state Senate.

Once approved by the Senate, the tribe will give about $3 million to local government agencies or organizations and about $15 million to the state.

--Staff reports