The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians recently signed a gambling compact with Indiana governor Eric Holcomb, bringing good news for Indiana online casinos. The compact allows the Four Winds Casino to expand its gambling offering and include slots, table games, and sports betting options.

A new compact with the state

The Four Winds Casino is operated by the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians in South Bend. It has been a Class II gaming venue for the past three years. It has offered bingo, pull-tab games, and poker to patrons since opening in January 2018. However, the new compact signed with Indiana governor Eric Holcomb will mean that the venue could be reclassified as Class III.

The compact was agreed to by Matthew Wesaw, the chairman of the Pokagon band, and is expected to take effect after receiving approval from the state lawmakers and the US Secretary of the Interior. As soon as the reclassification comes into effect, the casino will be able to offer a wider variety of games including sports betting, table games, and slot machines.

Table games like roulette, baccarat, craps, and blackjack will now become legal in the casino. These games are already available in commercial casinos of Indiana. However, sports betting will be the icing on the cake as it would be limited to the 166 acres of the tribal land of the Pokagon Band, which is federally recognized.

What does the compact include?

The new gambling compact took over a year of negotiations between the government and tribal officials. It sets a 10% tax rate on slot machine winnings in the Four Wins Casino. The state will receive 8% of the tax while the remaining goes to the City of South Bend. It also suggests that there can be no gambling venue within 50 miles of the casino. Individuals who are currently participating in gambling exclusion programs of the state cannot receive any marketing materials from the casino as well. Any individuals who have failed to pay for child support will also get their jackpot winnings withheld.