The casino advertises via a huge electronic sign on the I-94 freeway, the heavily traveled corridor between Detroit and Chicago. The Nottawaseppi Huron Band bought out the agreement four years early for $97.5 million, and took over management in May 2012. From its opening, GEM signed an agreement to manage the casino through August 2016, receiving 26 percent of net income. įireKeepers was developed by Gaming Entertainment Michigan (GEM), a joint venture of gaming operator Full House Resorts and real estate developer Robert Mathewson. Casino officials had more than 20,000 applicants for 1,500 positions before opening. The gaming floor occupies 107,000 square feet (9,900 m 2), and there are 3,000 parking spaces, 2,080 of them in a covered garage. It has five restaurants, including a buffet, and also a sports bar and cabaret. The casino has 2,900 state-of-the art slot machines, and 76 table games, including blackjack, roulette, craps, big six and baccarat.
The hotel and other additions opened in December 2012. Construction was a joint venture between Shingobee Builders and Clark Construction. Construction began May 7, 2008, and the casino opened to the general public on August 5, 2009. It is owned and operated by the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi.
FireKeepers Casino Hotel is a 236,000-square-foot (21,900 m 2) casino and hotel in Emmett Charter Township, Michigan, between Battle Creek and Marshall.
