Nineteen and 20-year-olds will now be permitted to gamble at the Odawa Casino Resort as a result of the Waganakising Odawak Gaming Regulatory Statute, which was just signed into law by Tribal Chairman Ken Harrington.
Tribal elders expressed a number of concerns at the proposal, suggesting that the reduction in the gambling age would result in increased criminal activity and alcohol abuse. Gerald Chingwa said the decision to reduce the age limit was taken very seriously and involved much discussion.
“We haven’t just made this decision overnight,” Chingwa said. “We spent many hours making sure this was the right approach. If it had been in any way harmful to the tribe the vote would have went differently.”
The statute was passed on October 10 during the regular meeting of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians Tribal Council. It passed with a vote a 6-1-2.
Chingwa said that the main reason for the reduction in the allowable age was based around his own belief that young members of the Armed Forces should be permitted to gamble if they are expected to protect and defend the country.
“If we’re going to send them off to combat, we should treat them as adults when they return,” Chingwa said. “They should enjoy the benefits of being adults. We have a lot of people regulating this. We’re not going to let them come in without control…it’s not like they’re going to come in and have a party.”
The casino is scheduled to begin accepting 19 and 20-year-olds before the end of the year; however, the statute may not be set in stone.
“If the (casino’s general manager) decides that (the age reduction) might not be worth our efforts, it may not last,” Chingwa said. “We have to listen to our (general manager).”
