A federal judge this week issued a temporary restraining order against the Chickasaw Nation's Class III gaming compact.

U.S. District Judge David Russell issued the order in a lawsuit brought by the Fort Sill Apache Tribe. Russell wrote that the tribe's casino will be "irreparably harmed" by the publication of the Chickasaw Nation's compact in the Federal Register.

Russell said he needs more time to consider the lawsuit. The Chickasaw Nation plans to offer off-track betting at a facility that is less than 25 miles from the Fort Sill casino. But the the Fort Sill Apaches say they were never told that this land was taken into trust even though Bureau of Indian Affairs regulations call for consultation of area tribes.

A copy of Russell's order can be found at http://www.indianz.com/docs/court/gaming/russell033004.pdf.

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Judge orders delay of tribe's betting compact (The Daily Oklahoman 3/31)