(WSBT) It's being billed as the second largest gaming floor in the country, but the new Four Winds Casino and Resort in New Buffalo also has touches that are unique to our area.

The high tech and not so hghi-tech games are ready to go, but the seats are empty — waiting for customers in a matter of hours.

"Four Winds is truly a casino that raises the standards of what a casino guest should expect," said Tim Cope of Lakes Entertainment, the group that helped develop Four Winds.

Workers are making last minute preparations, making sure everything is set for Thursday's grand opening. But while most of the focus is on the actual casino floor, for tribal leaders, it's about more than just gambling.

They'll use their share of the money from the casino to improve life for members of the Pokagon Band and restore culture that's being lost.

"We want to set up programs to revitalize language and culture and to develop a greater sense of native America in this community," said John Miller, Tribal Chairman for the Pokagon Band Of Potawatomi Indians.

Part of that heritage is reflected in the building.

"The property features several elements that embody our great traditions," Miller said. "You'll notice the use of stone, copper, cedar and birch — Materials that are used in many of our tribal ceremonies."

And as customers prepare to place their bets on the games of chance, people who have been fighting the casino's opening for more than a decade say they worry the millions that will be spent at the casino are being taken from other parts of the community.

"Where would those millions and millions of dollars go if they weren't going into that casino? Don't you think they'd be going into local department stores, hardware stores?" said Mike Hosinski of Taxpayers of Michigan Against Casinos.

More than 18,000 people applied for the 2,400 jobs at the resort. Miller hopes that those workers will have an impact on the surrounding area by having disposable income to spend in stores and shops throughout southwest Michigan and northern Indiana.

When the visitors start arriving, police are expecting traffic backups. They've already installed signs warning people of problems along Highway 39 and Interstate 94.

The Sheriff's Department says they'll be watching six different intersections to keep traffic moving.

"Our big goal is we don't want to see any backup on I-94. So at times, if we see a backup there, we may be shutting off LaPorte Road so we make sure traffic gets off the highway onto that exit ramp," explained Berrien County Sheriff Paul Bailey.

New Buffalo City Police and the LaPorte County Sheriff also have plans to keep traffic moving.