Duluth City Council Proposes Casino at the DECC
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DULUTH - A Duluth city councilor is working to change state gambling laws to build a city-owned for-profit casino at the DECC.
The intention is for the new casino to compete with the Fon-du-Luth Casino in downtown Duluth with the hope the money will fill the $6 million gap in yearly funding.
District 4 City Councilor Howie Hanson is calling the city's recently passed $5 street fee a casino revenue replacement fee.
His proposed resolution explains the band and city officials need to come to an agreement on the loss in revenue by the end of the year.
If a resolution is not reached, the city will call on the state legislature to change state gambling laws so the city is able to make money off its own casino.
"What I'm saying is that this may open up a Pandora's Box, and a new revenue stream that really serves Duluth well into the future,” Hanson explained. “At the end of the day the band may be saying, 'well maybe we should have just given $6 million to the city of Duluth because look at where we're at now.'"
Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Chairwoman Karen Diver sent FOX 21 a written statement reading, "Expansions to casino gaming would require a change to the state constitution. Duluth would have to compete with the metro area and other cities for approval. The gaming market is already saturated by existing mature operations. Mr. Hanson's idea is not new and has been a part of the city's past rhetoric."
Legally, for the city to put a casino at the DECC, city officials would have to get numerous state gambling laws changed.
According to Hanson, he already has support from state officials and challenging the law was bound to happen.
He said the DECC is a better spot for a casino because of the tourism in Canal Park.
Hanson said he's not sure what will come from this resolution if it passes.
He said he is not using it as a scare tactic or political talk; he just hopes it gets the conversation rolling to find a more permanent way of filling the $6 million void.
The city council will take up the topic at Monday’s city council meeting.