Michigan tribal casinos facing lawsuit over liquor licenses

Michigan tribal casinos facing lawsuit over liquor licenses The Indian casinos in the state of Michigan are once again under the gun for competitive advantages over the Detroit casino, this time the focus is on the liquor licenses. Patrick Devlin, an employee of the Michigan Gaming Control Board and a former assistant attorney general, filed a lawsuit on Tuesday in attempt to make Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox require the 19 tribal casinos in the state to apply for liquor licenses, a practice not required at this time. According to Devlin, the fact that the tribal casinos are not required to apply for liquor licenses saves them time and money, while giving them a big advantage over the three non-tribal casinos in Detroit.

"They [Detroit casinos] are also subject to frequent law enforcement checks and stings, and must pay fines and face license suspensions or revocations and the costs associated therewith if they violate the law. Tribal casinos incur none of these costs or sanctions," Patrick Devlin was quoted. Under compacts negotiated between the tribal casinos and the state of Michigan, the gaming control board does not regulate the Indian casinos. The lawsuit was filed in Ingham County Circuit Court and assigned to Chief Judge William Collette. No hearing date has been set at this time.

Published on 06/05/2008