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Date: February 17, 2003

GUN LAKE CASINO WILL BENEFIT GRAND RAPIDS AND KENT COUNTY SAYS MATCH-E-BE-NASH-SHE-WISH BAND OF POTTAWATOMI INDIANS

Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band Of Pottawatomi Indians Looks Forward To Bringing 4,300 Jobs, Local Supplier Purchases, Local and State Revenue Sharing, Economic Development And A Proven Recreational Attraction To Area

DORR, Mich., Feb. 17, 2003 -- Editors Note: The following statement may be attributed to Mr. D. K. Sprague, Tribal Chairman, Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians, also known as the Gun Lake Tribe:

"The Gun Lake Casino will be an area attraction that will benefit this whole region in the same way that the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce says their tourism advertising program, with its focus on Grand Rapids, will benefit the entire region."

"It has become a basic fact of life that gaming is necessary to compete in tourism today. The Gun Lake Casino, only 25 minutes from Grand Rapids, will directly benefit the tourism and convention efforts of Grand Rapids and Kent County.

"The Environmental Assessment we prepared for the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) completed an exhaustive two-year study with nationally-recognized specialists in the field who are greatly respected for their professional independence and integrity.

"We know that the Gun Lake Casino will bring great benefits including 4,300 badly needed jobs, local supplier purchases, local and state revenue sharing, economic development and a proven recreational attraction to this part of the state.

"That is why the Gun Lake Casino has already been supported by 6,000 grassroots members of FOGLI and other organizations including:

• Kalamazoo Regional Chamber of Commerce
• Kalamazoo Convention and Visitors Bureau
• Plainwell Chamber of Commerce
• Wayland Area Chamber of Commerce
• Gun Lake Chamber of Commerce
• Dorr Business Association
• Barry County Economic Alliance
• Allegan Area Chamber of Commerce
• Wayland Township
• City of Wayland
• Six of nine Allegan County Board of Commissioners
• Superintendents of Wayland and Allegan Public Schools
• Deputy Sheriff's Association (For the entire State of Michigan)