Four Winds South Bend casino project on track
Facility set to open early 2018
SOUTH BEND — The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians says it's on track to finish building Four Winds Casino South Bend by early next year, and it still plans on hiring about 1,200 people.
The band has announced job fairs to fill those positions July 22 at Jackson Middle School, Aug. 5 at Four Winds Field, Sept. 9 at Jackson Middle School and Oct. 3 at Century Center. Beginning July 17, Pokagon human resources staff might also accept applications at Union Station weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., but Pokagon spokeswoman Paige Risser said Friday that she couldn’t yet confirm that option will be available.
Risser said she couldn’t yet specify an opening date.
The project has created more than 300 temporary construction jobs. Most of the 1,200 permanent jobs will be “hospitality-centric” as well as traditional casino positions, said Frank Freedman, chief operating officer for Four Winds Casinos. Risser declined to disclose the hourly pay range for the positions, saying only that they will be “market competitive.”
Meanwhile the city of South Bend is on target with its commitment to extend water and sewer lines to the 166-acre site at Prairie Avenue and the U.S. 31/20 bypass.
The casino will offer video and slot machine gaming but no table or card games such as blackjack, poker, craps or roulette. The band would have liked to offer that full array of games in South Bend, as it does in New Buffalo, but was unable to negotiate a gaming compact with former Indiana Gov. Mike Pence.
Also, the casino initially won't include a hotel, event center or night club, amenities that the band added in New Buffalo incrementally over nine years as business warranted.
Four Winds Job Fairs
The public will have the opportunity to attend four job fairs for Four Winds Casino South Bend. The casino is looking to hire 1,200 employees
• July 22, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Jackson Middle School, South Bend
• Aug. 5, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Four Winds Field, South Bend
• Sept. 9, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Jackson Middle School, South Bend
• Oct. 3, 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., Century Center, South Bend
