White Earth Casino Plan Faces Pause After Tribal Election

A proposed $177 million casino and entertainment complex near Moorhead, Minnesota, has entered a period of uncertainty following a leadership change within the White Earth Band of Ojibwe. The tribe’s recent election elevated Jacob McArthur to secretary-treasurer, a position that places him as the second-highest official in the organisation and one that now carries influence over the project’s direction.

McArthur defeated incumbent Michael LaRoque, who had supported the development. Chairman Michael Fairbanks remains in place and has previously expressed backing for the casino proposal. McArthur, however, has raised concerns about both the process and the long-term financial implications, signalling that the project will not move forward under his immediate oversight without further review.

He told The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead that he intends to halt progress for now. “At this time, I’m going to pump the brakes on this thing. I’m not going to enter into any financial agreement on behalf of the tribe to get this thing moving. It’s going to come to a pause until we can answer some of these big questions,” he said.

Project scope and planned development

The casino plan centres on land purchased by White Earth in late 2024. The tribe acquired approximately 280 to 296 acres near the junction of Interstate 94 and Highway 336, close to Moorhead in Clay County, for about $3.9 million. The site sits near the Sabin exit and is positioned roughly 60 miles from the tribal headquarters in Ogema, Minnesota.

Earlier planning documents and impact studies outlined a large-scale gaming and hospitality complex. The proposal includes up to 1,200 slot machines and 10 to 12 table games, depending on design versions, alongside a hotel with around 200 rooms. Additional facilities would include a convention and event centre, restaurants, bars, retail space, parking for more than 1,000 vehicles, and in some versions a 50-pad RV park.

Total development costs have been estimated at approximately $176.8 million to $177 million. Construction is projected to create several hundred temporary jobs, while long-term operations could support around 600 full-time positions and 100 part-time roles, with some estimates citing up to 700 ongoing jobs once the facility is operational.

The economic modelling also projects more than 1.1 million annual visitors and an estimated yearly economic impact of around $174 million to Clay County.

Concerns over existing tribal operations

A central concern raised by McArthur involves the potential impact on White Earth’s existing gaming properties. The tribe currently operates Shooting Star Casino in Mahnomen on its reservation, along with a smaller facility in Bagley.

McArthur has questioned whether a new casino targeting the Fargo-Moorhead market would draw revenue away from these established locations. He said he heard similar concerns repeatedly during his election campaign, particularly regarding potential job losses or reduced activity at existing tribal venues.

“The study did mention there will be an impact to our on-reservation gaming site in Mahnomen and our casino in Bagley. I question what the impact will be?” he said. “Will it result in a reduction in workforce and a permanent loss of jobs? How are we going to mitigate the impact to our on-reservation members when that occurs?”

While feasibility studies suggest the new development would increase overall tribal income, they also indicate that most other regional casinos would not experience significant losses. McArthur has said he wants clearer assurances about how benefits and risks would be distributed across the tribe’s operations.

Employment distribution and community benefit

Another issue raised concerns employment allocation. Projections indicate the casino could support up to 700 permanent jobs, depending on final design and operating scale.

McArthur has questioned whether those roles would primarily benefit White Earth members. “Seven hundred jobs sounds great, but it’s meaningless to me if the majority aren’t going to my people,” he said. He added that he wants clarity on how tribal members would be positioned to access those opportunities and whether workforce development plans are in place.

The tribe has previously outlined wage expectations for the project, including a minimum hourly rate of around $19 for certain roles, with lower wages for tipped positions.

Because the proposed site is not located on existing reservation land, White Earth would need to pursue federal trust status for the property before casino gaming could proceed. This process would transfer the land into federal oversight, removing it from local taxation structures.

The proposal has already generated debate among local residents and officials in Clay County. Concerns have been raised about infrastructure demands, including water, sewer, and electricity provision, as well as increased pressure on public services such as law enforcement and fire response.

Some community members have also questioned the level of transparency surrounding the project and the implications of federal trust status, which would limit local government oversight of future development decisions on the site.

Leadership response and next steps

McArthur has said he has not yet discussed the matter directly with tribal Chairman Michael Fairbanks but expects the issue to be addressed early in his term. He has indicated that no financial agreements related to the project will proceed until outstanding questions are resolved.

He also emphasised the importance of considering local opposition in Moorhead and surrounding areas, stating that the tribe should take into account concerns from neighbouring communities when evaluating the project’s future.

“Being a good neighbor, that’s important. At least to me,” he said, as reported by InForum.

The project remains in a planning phase, with no final federal approval or construction timeline in place. Its future now depends in part on internal tribal decision-making following the recent election outcome.