Four Winds Casino Resort Worth of Hype

The pre-opening hype for the Four Winds Casino Resort in New Buffalo, Michigan promised that "the game is about to change". Now that the spectacular property has been up and running for two weeks, Midwest gamblers aren't arguing with that claim.

Lakes Entertainment, Inc. developed Four Winds for the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians and the company came through with a destination that stands alone in this market for its size (3,000 slots and 100 tables across a gigantic 130,000 sq. ft. gaming floor) and beauty.

Nestled within a scenic 675-acre wooded site, the casino and adjoining 165-room hotel would be easy to miss at Exit 1 on I-94 East, right after you cross the border into Michigan, if not for the words "Four Winds" printed on a blue water tower situated adjacent to the grounds.

A mile-long winding road through a forest takes you to the casino entrance. You'll pass through a rotunda appointed with ceremonial Native American décor and enter a single-level, land-based casino that boggles the minds of gamblers accustomed to the riverboat and barge properties in Northwest Indiana and Illinois.

The place is huge! The giant inventory of all new slot and video poker machines are the Class III versions found at state-regulated casinos and not the Class II (electronic bingo) variety typical of Native American casino properties in some states.

Another highlight is the poker room, which is furnished with 19 PokerPro electronic tables from PokerTek. Branded to the World Poker Tour, it is currently the largest automated poker room in the world.

A staff of friendly representatives is present to assist players. Fifteen of the tables have 10 seats and offer limit and no-limit hold'em cash games as well as limit and pot limit Omaha cash games. Daily tournaments are scheduled, plus there'll be tournaments for gamblers to win seats in World Poker Tour events.

The casino is bordered on one side by five of the six restaurants at Four Winds, including not only Copper Rock Steakhouse, but also something new to this casino market, a dedicated seafood venue called Swimm, featuring fresh daily selections, a full sushi menu and specialty drinks.

Two outlets, Willowbrook Café and Timbers Fast Food & Deli, are open 24 hours. There's also the Silver Brook Bistro which serves Starbucks coffee and an inviting cooking station buffet open for lunch ($11.00), dinner ($18.00) and late night from Midnight to 7:00 am ($7.00).

The hotel offers luxurious accommodations. Each of the standard rooms, junior suites, deluxe suites and celebrity suites includes all of the amenities overnight guests would expect of a top rate facility, including complimentary wireless high-speed Internet access and flat-screen high definition televisions, and complimentary Starbucks coffee.

The player's club at Four Winds Casino Resort is the "W Club", structured in three tiers and equipped with an "Instant Credit" feature which enables you to download slot credits right at the machines. It takes about $2.00 of play at the slots and $7.00 of play at video poker to earn one point. One hundred points equal $1.00 in Instant Credit.

Another player's club feature unique to this market is three ongoing random W Club Jackpots: The smallest must hit by $500, the medium by $20,000 and the windfall by $100,000.

CASINO NEWS: Congratulations to Daniel Zogman of McHenry for winning first prize of $227,811 in the Heartland Poker Tour tournament held at the Majestic Star Casinos in Gary July 21-29. Jim Kasputis, Jr. of Rockford finished second ($113,906) and Scott Bohlman of Homer Glen was third ($74,225). Final table action was taped by Comcast SportsNet for broadcast later this year.