Four Winds Casino has strong opening

"It's such a crowd-pleaser that in its first two months of operation, gamblers provided the facility, owned by the Dowagiac-based Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians, with nearly $49 million just in slot-machine revenue.

"That was the figure derived from a listing of the Pokagons' 8 percent state revenue-sharing payment and 2 percent Local Revenue Sharing Board award that showed up Wednesday on a state Web site.

"The 8 percent share, earmarked for economic development, was listed as slightly more than $3.9 million. The 2 percent share shows a figure of $977,266.

"...Bush said the numbers compare favorably with those put up by the Soaring Eagle Casino in Mount Pleasant, Mich. But the Soaring Eagle has more than 4,400 slot machines, compared with Four Winds' 3,000..."