Indiana’s Four Winds Casino launches expanded table games with the Gov.

T

he Four Winds Casino in South Bend and the State of Indiana have officially launched a new partnership to include new gaming options. The casino has unveiled their new live table games, which transforms it from a Class II gaming facility to a Class III one.

Government and leaders of the Pokagon Tribe cut the ribbon on the new live gaming tables on Thursday, August 5, which now includes Las Vegas-style gaming such as blackjack, craps and roulette. More slot machines to be added.

“All these tables behind me are here. 16 table games,” said Four Winds CEO Frank Freedman, as reported by abc57 “The tables alone, I believe it’s about 150-additional jobs, plus or minus, just now, because of what we just did here, and more to come.”

The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians first applied for a Class III gaming license with the state and federal government in 2019, which required a compact to be agreed with the state of Indiana. Governor Holcomb signed off said compact the same year; Department of Interior approved the new license shortly after.

“The compact is very important to us because now it allows us to compete at an even level with all the commercial casinos in the state of Indiana,” commented Matt Wesaw, tribal council chairman with the Pokagon Band. “It will increase our revenue, obviously.”

On the gaming upgrade, Gov. Eric Holcomb said it would help the facility become an economic driver not just for the region but for the state. “When Jeffersonville does well, South Bend benefits. When South Bend or St. Joe or Elkhart County’s doing well, Vanderburgh County does well,” Holcomb commented. “This is a big win for the Pokagon Band of the Potawatomi Indiana and for the state of Indiana.”

To follow this new upgrade in class, the casino is also expanding facilities: construction is already underway on a 23-story hotel and additional 40,000-square feet of gaming floor, expected to be completed in the fall of next year.

Other plans include adding a retail sportsbook, which would involve further discussions with the state.

Due to the compact with Indiana, the casino will now have to share 8% of its revenue generated with the state, which was not the case with the previous license.

Today was a special day as we celebrated @FourWindsCasino’s ability to have Class III gaming.

Thanks to our partnership with Chairman Wesaw and the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi, our state will continue to be the very best place in the world to live, work, play, study and stay. pic.twitter.com/IppuKZr7CY

— Governor Eric Holcomb (@GovHolcomb) August 5, 2021