Jump to content
SiouxSports.com Forum

Turtle mountain casino in grand forks?


Redneksioux

Recommended Posts

Wdaz news has reported the turtle mountain tribe is once again lobbying for a casino in grand forks.

In order for this to happen, would their purchased land become sovereign land? So they could tip-toe around the non-smoking state law? And if this happens how would this affect current gambling fundraisers in town?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Didn't the Turtle Mountain Tribe oppose the Fighting Sioux nickname? I'm offended by them wanting a Casino in GF.

Yes they were. They wanted to put a casino in GF when the Sioux name was on life support. I think they should have a casino in GF only if the royalties go to the city of GF and not just to the tribe (and tribe I mean the very few that get the money). Jesse Ventura said it best when he said if Reservations can keep all that money why can't the state (in putting in state run casinos).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yes they were. They wanted to put a casino in GF when the Sioux name was on life support. I think they should have a casino in GF only if the royalties go to the city of GF and not just to the tribe (and tribe I mean the very few that get the money). Jesse Ventura said it best when he said if Reservations can keep all that money why can't the state (in putting in state run casinos).

Turtle Mountain are Chippewa...and their earlier casino proposal died long before the final days of the Sioux logo so no use hating them for that. They did give us Ben B. and the greatest Sioux logo ever but that's another story. Maybe it is time to think about actually thinking FORWARD and giving a tribe something back? They would benefit and it would be a tourist attraction for GF (very MUCH needed - especially on 42nd somewhere to give all the new hotel patrons something to do...their timing might just be right;-) Who KNOWS where that might lead:-) We ARE picking a new nickname next year I believe...

PS to Darryl - no offense bro but Jesse Ventura NEVER said anything "best" and he's a "tinfoil on my windows"-weirdo hiding out in mexico these days.....not really a good source to quote.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I enjoy an Indian casino probably more than most but I don't see this as a good idea for grand forks. It would further promote gambling in the community which I already believe has enough of a problem with this. So it would employ up to 600? At what pay scales/benefits? Just a guess that they'd be lower tier overall. And another guess without knowing where the profits would go, but I'd guess the city couldn't take too much (other than the sale of the land unless it's sold by a private party?). Canadians would probably consist of 50% of the business though and currently most of their money goes to the big businesses in gf(very little goes to actual local business owners/city/state). So if the casino's profits were somehow shared with our community maybe it could be a good thing! I guess I don't know without more details.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

As a non-gambler, the only upsides I see are economic development (retail, dining, etc.) around the site (NIMBY, of course) and the addition of a quality entertainment venue to get us on the map for touring artists and events who seem all too content to skip GFK and even FAR on a regular basis.

Wouldn't the Indian Reservation lose money from people traveling to GF and not to Belcourt?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Wouldn't the Indian Reservation lose money from people traveling to GF and not to Belcourt?

A drop in the bucket if the tribe's off-reservation enterprise is a serious money-maker and, just as importantly, reaches new markets. Probably lots of I-29 travelers and 'urbanites' (applying that term loosely...it's ND) who wouldn't set foot in Belcourt but who would gladly step into a shiny, new facility in GF.

Heck, even Wal-Mart started out in backwater small towns; now there's one in every upper middle class suburb.

If the tribe is pushing, I'm sure they've done the math.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

A drop in the bucket if the tribe's off-reservation enterprise is a serious money-maker and, just as importantly, reaches new markets. Probably lots of I-29 travelers and 'urbanites' (applying that term loosely...it's ND) who wouldn't set foot in Belcourt but who would gladly step into a shiny, new facility in GF.

Heck, even Wal-Mart started out in backwater small towns; now there's one in every upper middle class suburb.

If the tribe is pushing, I'm sure they've done the math.

Except we don't know how much GF is asking in return for this new casino. What's the odds if GF makes too much money they close up shop and leave GF with an empty building.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I enjoy an Indian casino probably more than most but I don't see this as a good idea for grand forks. It would further promote gambling in the community which I already believe has enough of a problem with this. So it would employ up to 600? At what pay scales/benefits? Just a guess that they'd be lower tier overall. And another guess without knowing where the profits would go, but I'd guess the city couldn't take too much (other than the sale of the land unless it's sold by a private party?). Canadians would probably consist of 50% of the business though and currently most of their money goes to the big businesses in gf(very little goes to actual local business owners/city/state). So if the casino's profits were somehow shared with our community maybe it could be a good thing! I guess I don't know without more details.

Why should they have to share their profits with the city? Do you require this from any other business that wants to open? Could you also explain the difference between a national and a local run business and how they contribute tho the city/state?
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Turtle Mountain are Chippewa...and their earlier casino proposal died long before the final days of the Sioux logo so no use hating them for that. They did give us Ben B. and the greatest Sioux logo ever but that's another story. Maybe it is time to think about actually thinking FORWARD and giving a tribe something back? They would benefit and it would be a tourist attraction for GF (very MUCH needed - especially on 42nd somewhere to give all the new hotel patrons something to do...their timing might just be right;-) Who KNOWS where that might lead:-) We ARE picking a new nickname next year I believe...

PS to Darryl - no offense bro but Jesse Ventura NEVER said anything "best" and he's a "tinfoil on my windows"-weirdo hiding out in mexico these days.....not really a good source to quote.

Jesse Ventura was the greatest governor this country has ever seen.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Why should they have to share their profits with the city? Do you require this from any other business that wants to open? Could you also explain the difference between a national and a local run business and how they contribute tho the city/state?

I can't answer all of your questions but I do know that most of the money Canadians bring into the gf area goes to national companies that normally pay their employees very little. Canadians also don't have to pay state sales tax. So I'm not sold on the fact that more Canadian traffic will boost grand forks' or nds economy.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I can't answer all of your questions but I do know that most of the money Canadians bring into the gf area goes to national companies that normally pay their employees very little. Canadians also don't have to pay state sales tax. So I'm not sold on the fact that more Canadian traffic will boost grand forks' or nds economy.

So you are saying that local employers pay more? North Dakota should make it as difficult to get a refund on taxes as the Canadians do Americans. You really have no concept of economics do you?
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I can't answer all of your questions but I do know that most of the money Canadians bring into the gf area goes to national companies that normally pay their employees very little. Canadians also don't have to pay state sales tax. So I'm not sold on the fact that more Canadian traffic will boost grand forks' or nds economy.

Restaurants, Bars, UND Athletics, Hotels, Gas Stations..... all benefit.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

So what are these large outside corporations names that pay less excluding retail?

Outside of retail I don't know every business that is locally owned. I know many of the restaurants are locally owned but many are also not. Not trying to stereotype but ask a local server what the Canadians are known for at restaurants. It's very common that tips from them are very low and it's also very common they complain about food or service to get free meals. Most of the money that is spent by the Canadians does not go to locally owned businesses. And most of the hotels are not locally owned. So they give the local gas stations business. But they still get out of paying sales tax. And the majority of local employees that benefit from their business are paid very little in the service and or retail industry.

Now the builders and contractors do well because of the Canadian traffic. They also keep our government funded road workers busy. But who pays for that?

I may not be an economics major. I just don't see how a casino in grand forks city limits could possibly benefit the community even if it was legal.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...