The Firekeepers Casino near Battle Creek, Michigan, is celebrating its first anniversary. The casino opened its doors on August 5, 2009 and since then has seen a great share of customers, a good share of winners and a positive impact on the community. To help celebrate its first birthday, the Firekeepers Casino is offering many fun promotions. The main promotion will see three lucky winners win a year’s worth of groceries, gas, or mortgage payments. Of course the jackpots will be rolling also. The Casino is run by the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi Native Americans. Even though the emphasis of the birthday celebrations are placed on the fun the casino goers can enjoy, operators of the casino want the residents of Western Michigan to know about the casinos impact on the economy in the region.
In the past two years many of states have looked toward their gambling laws to help boost their sagging economy. For most, this meant expanding gambling and casino laws so the state governments can take advantage of taxes and fees on the casinos. Lawmakers know these are short term fixes, but, at the moment, any booster shot for the economy is a good one. Some states like Michigan, have added casinos. Of course, there are the taxes and fees, but the feel bringing casinos into a region of their state will help their economy in the long term. The Firekeepers Casino is a good example of this.
The Firekeepers Casino has brought close to 1,500 jobs to West Michigan. Most experts will state that creating jobs is the biggest step to reviving the economy. Executives from the casino also say that the Firekeepers Casino has been able to bring almost $12 million into the local economy. “We’ve always viewed ourselves as a positive economic driver, here in this community,” said Marketing Director Michael Facenda. The one year old casino in Michigan is doing its part to stimulate the economy, putting people to work, and getting people to spend.
