Nov
27
2010
We've been saying for some time now that the politics of off-reservation gaming are muddying the waters of the Carcieri fix. Over a year ago, North Dakota's own Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND) introduced a bill to fix the U.S. Settlement in New York: Is a Cross-Border Casino Next?
Nov
23
2010
New York Governor David Paterson announced a settlement agreement with the Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohican Indians in Wisconsin. The tribe had claimed some 23,000 acres of land in Madison County in New York state, and the governor agreed to give the tribe 330 acres in another county, Sullivan County, to settle the claim. The plan is for the tribe to open a casino on the Sullivan Country property.So is it a done deal? We say no -- far from it. Here's what has to happen:
An Interesting Critique and Call for Reform
Nov
17
2010
In the latest issue of Casino Enterprise Management, former NIGC attorney Richard Schiff lays out the effect of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Seminole Tribe (Seminole Tribe v. Florida, 517 U.S. 44 (1996)), as well as the CRIT case out of the D.C. Circuit (Colorado River Indian Tribes v. NIGC, 466 F.3d 134 (DC Cir. 2006)) on federal regulation of Indian gaming. The article, provocatively titled, "The Illusion of Regulation in the Indian Gaming Industry," calls for Congress to "fix" Seminole and CRIT.More From Michigan
Nov
6
2010
Coverage in the Detroit Free Press indicates that the state was "caught off guard" by the new Bay Mills Resort Casino in Vanderbilt, Michigan. The tribe has purchased more land along the St. Clair River in Port Huron, and may open another casino there. And the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians has purchased land in Wayne County.State officials are planning to meet with Bay Mills officials this coming week. Local officials in Vanderbilt are supportive, anticipating positive economic impacts.
Off-Reservation Casino in Michigan?
Nov
3
2010
Local news in Michigan has reported the opening of an off-reservation casino by the Bay Mills Indian Community. The tribe purchased some 45 acres of property in Northern Michigan, ostensibly for elk hunting. The property includes the 1200-square foot "Welcome Center" of a former resort, which is now reportedly operating as a casino (or at least a slot room). According to reports, the tribe has not sought to take the land into trust.The tribe has issued a press release confirming the opening and operation of the "Vanderbilt casino," referencing tribal "off-reservation treaty rights" related to hunting in the Vanderbilt area.
Kathryn Quoted on Gov. Riley's Efforts to Close Tribal Casinos
Oct
28
2010
As we posted yesterday, Alabama Governor Riley is working to shut down tribal casinos for failure to comply with the state law prohibition against electronic bingo. Kathryn's quoted in an article in Gambling Compliance, "Alabama Crackdown Shifts Focus to Tribal Casinos."Maybe we should extend our offer for a crash course on tribal sovereignty and Indian gaming law to the Republican gubernatorial candidate, Robert Bently . . . .
Update from Alabama
Oct
27
2010
Alabama Governor Bob Riley continues to target "illegal" tribal gaming in his state. Too bad the law isn't on his side.As we've written about before, Riley has been crusading against electronic bingo machines, which are illegal under state law. He's shut down commercial electronic bingo across the state. And he continues to try to shut down the Poarch Band of Creek Indians' Class II gaming operation, which features some 3000 electronic bingo machines. He claims that because the machines are illegal under state law, the tribe can't operate them.
