SOUTH BEND — The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians and its Four Winds Casinos recently announced that its newest casino, Four Winds South Bend, will open to the public at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 16.

The casino will share the Four Winds brand with the other Pokagon casino locations including New Buffalo, Hartford and Dowagiac, made the announcement.

“This property will be an entertainment destination that complements our Four Winds brand, offering the latest in gaming and a full array of our signature restaurants including The Buffet, Copper Rock Steakhouse, Timbers Fast Food & Deli, White Birch Market and introducing Kankakee Grille,” said Frank Freedman, chief operating officer of Four Winds Casinos. “From the moment we began construction, we did so with the full support and cooperation from the National Indian Gaming Association, our local, county and state governments, and most importantly, from the community. We are proud of the coordinated efforts of all of our partners in construction to keep us moving forward.”

“When we broke ground in December 2016, we did so knowing we’ll have a significant economic impact on the region,” said John P. Warren, chairman of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians. “Once operating, it will generate revenue to fund services and programs that will create additional economic opportunities for Pokagon Citizens, the city of South Bend, and also fund community projects, local organizations and schools. Our commitment to our tribal citizens, children and families of this region is our greatest priority. From the moment of the groundbreaking and beyond when the casino opens in January, the benefits will multiply.”

Partners supporting the Pokagon Band and Four Winds Casinos in the construction of Four Winds South Bend include: architect HBG Design, of Memphis, Tennessee; civil engineer Wightman and Associates, of Benton Harbor; construction management company F.A. Wilhelm, of Indianapolis; and owners representative Kramer Management Group, of Lansing.

Four Winds South Bend will have 175,000 square feet and include 1,800 games, four restaurants, a player’s lounge, a coffee shop, three bars, a retail outlet, and approximately 4,500 parking spaces including an enclosed parking structure.

When complete, the casino will employ approximately 1,200 people.

The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians’ sovereignty was reaffirmed under legislation signed into law by President Bill Clinton in September of 1994. The Pokagon Band is dedicated to providing community development initiatives such as housing, education, family services, medical care and cultural preservation for its approximately 5,000 citizens, officials said.

The Pokagon Band’s 10-county service area includes four counties in southwestern Michigan and six in northern Indiana. Its main administrative offices are located in Dowagiac, with a satellite office in South Bend.

In 2007, it opened Four Winds Casino Resort in New Buffalo, followed by Four Winds Hartford in 2011 and Four Winds Dowagiac in 2013. Four Winds South Bend will open in early 2018.

It owns and operates a variety of business via Mno-Bmadsen, the tribe’s non-gaming investment enterprise.

More information is available at pokagonband-nsn.gov, fourwindscasino.com and mno-bmadsen.com.