Manitoba is about to get another casino.

The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs announced Thursday that construction will begin next spring on the Spirit Sands Casino near Carberry.

It will be developed and managed by Hemisphere Gaming from Minnesota.

AMC Grand Chief Derek Nepinak says Hemisphere has a solid track record managing the very successful South Beach Casino and Resort, which has been making money since it opened in 2005 on the Brokenhead Ojibway Nation, near Scanterbury, Man.

“Furthermore, Hemisphere’s management team has developed solid relationships with the AMC and First Nations,” Nepinak said.

Nepinak says AMC's agreement with Hemisphere will be more favourable for First Nations people than the agreement for South Beach.

In 2011, CBC broke a story that showed Hempisphere was paid a hefty management fee for the Brokenhead casino. At the time there was criticism that not enough of the revenues went back to the First Nations communities.

“We've done the best we can with the numbers that we have to work with. And I think we've come to a good agreement," said Nepinak.

"It's not the same agreement as the South Beach Casino. There was market risk and uncertainties there. I think there is less risk [now] and I think that's led to a much more favourable gaming agreement."

The new casino is expected to open in late 2013 and employ approximately 150 people.

It will be located on the Swan Lake First Nation with profits shared equally among Manitoba's 63 first nations.

Initially, the casino will have up to 450 slot machines and about 12 table games.

“If and when there is market support, we will look at expanding Spirit Sands,” said Nepinak.

“Building to existing demand has proven a successful business model at South Beach Casino and Resort, which has expanded four times since it opened seven years ago.”

But some First Nations chiefs feel left out of the Spirit Sands plan and are skeptical about the returns.

Birdtail Sioux First Nation Chief Ken Chalmers said his community, north of Virden, is still waiting for cheques from South Beach revenues.

He wants more transparency on how the money from the latest casino will be divided.

“There's lots of questions. We've seen what happened in the past and it does affect us all, all 63 of us. We're not allowed to find out what the deals are,” he said.