A federal judge in Michigan has issued an injunction against the Bay Mills Indian Community, preventing them from running its Vanderbilt casino. The tribe had until noon today to cease all casino operations at that location.

The preliminary injunction was issued by Judge Paul Maloney while a lawsuit is sorted out. The Little Traverse Band of Odawa Indians, who also operate casinos within the state of Michigan, have sued the Bay Mills tribe, saying that they have no right to operate the casino in Vanderbilt because it is not on tribal land.

The Vanderbilt casino is located south of the Bay Mills reservation. According to the lawsuit, because it is not on the reservation, the tribe cannot operate a casino there. The Bay Mills tribe disagrees, though. They say because they purchased that land in Vanderbilt with land-claims settlement money with the state, that makes the land tribal land, which allows them to run a casino on it.

This case is not expected to be settled anytime soon. It has broad implications for tribal gambling in the state. The Bay Mills tribe wants to open casinos elsewhere in the state, such as on property that used to be a post office that they bought last year.

The case will eventually determine where the Bay Mills tribe can and cannot operate casinos, in accordance with their compact with the state of Michigan. Until then, according to the injunction, they are ordered to “case operating slot machines and other electronic games of chance or any other gaming activities currently offered on its property in Vanderbilt, Michigan.” The injunction was granted this morning, with a compliance deadline of noon today.

Last Friday, Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm signed a new smoking ban into law that outlaws smoking in all bars and restaurants. The new law will take effect in May 2010. Similar smoking bans already exist in other states, such as Florida and California. Smokers have predictably called the legislation discrimination, saying that it tramples on their right to smoke wherever they please. Like is often the case, these people have no idea what is a “right” in our country and what is a privilege. I’ve read the US Constitution many times, including the Bill of Rights, and smoking is never mentioned. The anti-smoking crowd points out that they have a right to eat food without choking on someone else’s cigarette smoke, but they aren’t right either. The truth is, each establishment has the right to choose whether or not they want to allow smoking. A smart restaurant separates the smoking and non-smoking sections in such a way that smoke from the smoking section won’t bother people in the non-smoking section. If they do not, non-smokers have right to refuse to eat there. But I digress. For the record, I think smoking is a filthy habit and I can’t enjoy eating a meal when someone else’s smoke is in my face. Plus there is still that believe, though unproven, that second-hand smoke can cause cancer.

As is often the case, though, the new legislation does not affect everyone equally. Lobbyists are very good at getting new laws to work to their benefit. As a result, cigar bars and casinos are exempt from the smoking ban. As a result, some believe that casino business could increase. Smokers enjoy smoking as a social activity, and if they can’t do it at their local bar but can at a casino, why not go to the casino? And while you’re there, you can always try your hand at blackjack.

Some employees of casinos have complained about having to inhale smoke all night at work and are likely unhappy with the exemption, but there are now plenty of places where they can work in a smoke-free environment. Only time will tell if the ban significantly increases the business of the casinos, because it’s unlikely that smokers will go there instead of a restaurant to eat, but they could take away a lot of business from bars. Of course, while that’s good for the casinos, it’s not so good for the bars. We’ll keep you posted.