1. Four Winds Casinos prepare to reopen on Monday. (WNDU) By Mark Peterson. 12, 2020 at 1:31 PM PDT. All four Four Winds casinos are set to reopen Monday at noon.
2. SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN - Four Winds Casinos is planning to reopen June 15. The Pokagon Gaming Authority announced Monday, June 1, it was reopening the four casino locations in Michigan and Indiana.

SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN -- Four Winds Casinos is planning to reopen June 15.

The Pokagon Gaming Authority announced Monday, June 1, it was reopening the four casino locations in Michigan and Indiana.

The Blue Chip Casino and all Four Winds Casino locations will reopen Monday with new coronavirus safety protocols in place, such as Plexiglas between some slot machines and fewer players allowed at. Four Winds Casino in South Bend, Ind., has announced that it will reopen its poker room on Oct. Seven tables with Plexiglas dividers will be in use, with games 7-handed. Masks are required and tournaments are temporarily suspended. For more information on poker room reopenings, visit our Reopen webpage.

The Four Winds Casinos Operations Team has been working closely with the Pokagon Gaming Authority, the Pokagon Gaming Commission and the Pokagon Health Task Force to develop a reopening plan, the casino said in a press release.

The June 15 reopening plan is contingent on approval from the Pokagon Gaming Commission at its meeting June 8 and notification to the National Indian Gaming Commission, according to the casino.

“We’ve been closely monitoring the data related to the spread of COVID-19, consulting with medical experts, and evaluating the potential impact the virus could have on our community and employees, said Matthew Wesaw, Tribal Council Chairman and CEO of Pokagon Gaming Authority.

Despite being a sovereign nation, the leaders considered recommendations from the federal government, Centers for Disease Control and governors of both Michigan and Indiana, Wesaw said.

“It is possible that this date could change due to a resurgence in COVID-19 cases, but we will continue to monitor the situation as we work towards this reopening goal,” Wesaw said.

Four Winds Casinos has Michigan locations in New Buffalo, Dowagiac and Hartford as well as South Bend, Indiana.

The Pokagon Gaming Authority closed all those casinos March 17 “for the safety and well-being of the employees,' according to the casino. Nearly 1,500 employees of Four Winds Casinos were later placed on a temporary furlough.

FireKeepers Casino in Battle Creek reopened Monday, June 1. Other area businesses are also slowing reopening under loosened government restrictions.

Related: New workplace safety website helps businesses reopen safely during pandemic

The casinos began recalling employees previously on furlough during the closure, said Frank Freedman, CEO of Four Winds Casinos.

“We look forward to sharing the details of our reopening plan once they are approved so our guests know what to expect and have an enjoyable entertainment experience when visiting one of our Four Winds Casino locations once we reopen,” Freedman said.

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