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Editorial: Worthy lawsuit on Seminole compact (12/24)

"As a rule, it is futile and wasteful for one government agency to sue another. A worthy exception is Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum suing to stop the U.S. Department of the Interior from formalizing...

Editorial: Voters should decide on Potawatomi casino (12/20)

"One of the arguments used by state officials to support relocation of the State Police headquarters to downtown Lansing is it will bring construction jobs and employment to the capital city. In that light, then,...

Editorial: Diversity economy without casinos (12/19)

"The idea of expanding Connecticut's casino industry was raised by Arthur Wright, a University of Connecticut professor emeritus of economics, during a discussion of the 2008 issue of The Connecticut Economy journal which Wright edits....

Pequot Chair: Balancing tribal, worker rights (12/17)

"We know you have been following recent events here at Mashantucket involving union activity. We are writing to you so that you might understand the position of the tribal nation, and hopefully understand that...

Column: Governor in trouble for Seminole deal (12/17)

"There are no paintings of Charlie Crist standing in the bow of a boat crossing the Delaware River (or Tampa Bay). And nobody has ever claimed that, as a boy, Charlie took a hatchet and...

Editorial: Nottawaseppi casino good for economy (12/14)

"The Battle Creek community got a double dose of good news Wednesday as Kellogg Co. announced plans to expand its downtown research and development facility and representatives of the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi presented...

Editorial: Seminole compact needs more review (12/14)

"With state coffers shortchanged, Gov. Charlie Crist was smart to negotiate a gambling compact with the Seminole Tribe. The wisdom of that effort, however, doesn't negate the need for a proper vetting of the...

Column: Mohawk backer wins $2.8B judgment (12/12)

"Not only did the longtime plugger of juicy Catskill casino stories, Joseph Bernstein, win a court victory last week that has the casino giant Harrah's nervous, he's won some hard-earned media coverage to boot. If...

Seminole Tribe: Paper wrong on gaming spending (12/11)

Leaders of the Seminole Tribe of Florida have responded to The South Florida Sun-Sentinel's series on their use of gaming revenues. The tribal council said the newspaper based its reporting on inaccurate figures. The tribe...

Opinion: 'Sioux' t-shirt wrong about Indian gaming (12/10)

"Last week, the Herald reported on a T-shirt being sold by a company in Jamestown, N.D. (“Sioux logo T-shirt stirs controversy,." The T-shirt, which read, “No Sioux Logo? No Sioux Casinos!,” was critical not...

Editorial: State-run casinos not a bad idea in Missouri (12/10)

"Kansas is the only state that has proposed retaining ownership and operational control of nontribal casinos. Construction of a casino just outside Galena and Baxter Springs would greatly enhance the economic impact of gambling in...

Opinion: No reason to hate Seminole compact (12/07)

"The voters of Broward County gave the pari-mutuels a real shot at success when they voted "yes" to slot casinos. Operators knew that they had limited time before they had equal competition from the Seminole...

Editorial: Gaming compacts good for California (12/05)

"The federal government has given the nod to compacts between the state and four native tribes to expand casino operations. It's a positive step that will ultimately pump millions into the state and the Coachella...

Column: Florida governor and Seminole compact (12/04)

"Here is an old idea that we got from English law: Just 'cause a government guy is a big shot, that doesn't make him all-powerful. We can challenge his actions in court. We can demand...

Opinion: Vote no on California gaming compacts (12/03)

"Every once in a while voters get a chance to correct a legislative mistake. The Secretary of State has officially qualified four referenda, Propositions 94, 95, 96 and 97, for the February 5, 2008...

Editorial: Dealers show their cards at Foxwoods (12/03)

"The dealers’ recent vote to unionize at Foxwoods Resort Casino is potentially momentous for Connecticut. Dealers number 3,000 out of more than 10,000 employees at the casino, which the Mashantucket Pequot tribe opened in...

Column: Don't impose morals on gaming tribes (11/30)

"The whole idea of casinos doesn't sit well with more than a few puritanical souls. One of Wisconsin's tribes wanted to develop the Kaukauna dog track into a gaming operation but the community's citizens solidly...

Editorial: Unions in hot pursuit of tribal workers (11/30)

"A century ago, industrialists believed their workers were too ignorant and fearful of change to rise against management. They were wrong. Foxwoods officials apparently believed their treasured Indian sovereignty would protect them from unions seeking...

Editorial: Stakes high in Foxwoods union fight (11/29)

"It should come as no surprise the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe and Foxwoods Resort Casino intend on appealing last week's employees' vote to unionize. The stakes are high for both employees and employer, and the...

Editorial: Keep an eye on Choctaw casino (11/29)

"The vote by the Jackson County Board of Supervisors against the proposed Choctaw casino may put the issue "behind us," as Supervisor John McKay said last week. After months of maneuvering, it is time for...

Opinion: Passamaquoddy racino vote a surprise (11/29)

"In a quiet election year, the citizen initiative to allow the Passamaquoddy Tribe to build a racino in Washington County garnered the most attention. But more interesting than the debate before the vote is what...

Editorial: Let public vote on Graton casino (11/28)

"When an Indian tribe bought property just south of Petaluma hoping to establish a casino complex there, then-Petaluma City Councilman Mike Healy suggested giving residents an opportunity to vote on the proposal. Healy’s reasoning was...

Editorial: Unions in Oklahoma tribal casinos (11/28)

"As the Choctaw Nation moves forward with an ambitious plan to transform its casino in Hugo into a destination resort, tribal officials are keeping an eye on Texas, which doesn't have casino gaming but very...

Opinion: Debate on Seminole compact nonsensical (11/28)

"Today in Florida, the doyens of political power are engaged in a debate less metaphysical, but no less silly. To wit, where, how, and under what circumstances should a person be allowed to bet his...

Letter: Vote on Graton Rancheria casino (11/27)

"I write to clarify certain points regarding the proposal to put an advisory measure on the June ballot to allow Sonoma County voters an opportunity to weigh in on the Graton Rancheria casino in Rohnert...

Editorial: Negotiate compact with Poarch Creeks (11/27)

"Most years, the question of expanded gambling comes up in the Alabama Legislature and seldom gets very far. But with a new year and a new session looming, state government faces potential trouble in the...

Editorial: Florida governor an 'Indian giver' (11/27)

"Charlie Crist, the self-anointed “People’s Governor,” has decided that he, and he alone, is entitled to negotiate a gambling agreement with the Seminole Tribe. The “compact” may be the best deal available. But since...

Column: Good news and bad news in compact fight (11/26)

"The bad news for four SoCal Indian tribes that want voters to approve deals allowing their already-big casinos to get bigger is that the public is kind of lukewarm about the idea so far....

Column: Republicans cheer Seminole lawsuit (11/26)

"From the time the Seminoles first opened bingo halls in 1979, the state has been negotiating and litigating over their gambling operations. And yet, nowhere in the state constitution is anything authorizing the governor to...

Editorial: Foxwoods union vote a critical one (11/26)

"Roughly 3,000 dealers at Foxwoods Resort & Casino will vote today regarding whether to join a union. The voting will take place at the casino from 8 a.m. to roughly 11 p.m., with the results...

Column: Vegas crowd blocks Michigan casino (11/26)

"HR 2176, the bill to approve the land-claim settlement between the state of Michigan and Bay Mills, was offered by U.S. Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Menominee, whose district includes the contested land. It was co-sponsored by...

Editorial: 'Troubling' Shawnee casino proposal (11/26)

"Given the hostile response to the Shawnee Tribe's initial proposal for an Oklahoma City casino, we're surprised the tribe is still interested. That casino would have been near Bricktown, an idea that drew scorn...

Editorial: Cowlitz casino belongs elsewhere (11/26)

"The Cowlitz Tribe’s housing center is in the Lewis County town of Toledo for good reason, the same reason tribal offices are in the Cowlitz County town of Longview: Obviously, this is Cowlitz country....

Editorial: Aquinnah Wampanoag in casino race (11/23)

"The Aquinnah Wampanoag may have a better chance of succeeding at their casino venture than their counterparts from Mashpee. Not only are they free of the disgrace brought upon the Mashpees by former Chairman Glenn...

Column: Wyandotte casino sign destroys building (11/22)

"Downtown could use a little fun, I say. But in this case the fun comes with a price. Because the casino would operate on sovereign Indian land, it would not be subjected to state...

Column: Vote on California compacts wrong (11/20)

"It was predictable months ago that the Democratic Party in California would find itself stuck in between two of its major constituencies. And it has. So what's the so-called working man's party to do...

Rep. Miller: Democrats scuttled Michigan gaming bills (11/19)

"Your recent editorial about efforts to bring a casino to Port Huron shows the Times Herald is, at best, completely naive as to the politics behind this issue in Washington, D.C. It is almost laughable...

Editorial: Seminoles are the good guys in Florida (11/19)

"A fight already is breaking out over the agreement Gov. Crist and the Seminoles signed last week to expand gambling at seven tribal properties in Florida. But the odds of finding a true "good...

Editorial: Listen to voters on Choctaw casino (11/16)

"The Jackson County Board of Supervisors should vote to back results of the Nov. 6 election on the Choctaw casino proposal. The Choctaw proposal lost with about 60 percent of the ballots cast in the...

Editorial: The right decision on Seminole compact (11/16)

"Somewhat lost in all the sharp criticism of the gambling agreement that Gov. Charlie Crist signed with the Seminole tribe on Wednesday is this consideration: It was going to happen with or without the state's...

Opinion: Passamaquoddy racino vote and racism (11/16)

"So, Dennis Bailey, point guy for CasinosNO!, says racism had nothing to do with the voters rejecting the Washington County racino. Well, Dennis, I wouldn’t bet on being right. Statistically, it’s pretty much impossible for...

Harold Monteau: NIGC violates trust responsibility (11/16)

"The National Indian Gaming Commission recently released its long-dreaded revised regulations with regard to Class II machine gaming. The tribal and industry response was swift, vehement and absolutely correct. Communications from tribes to the NIGC...

Opinion: Narragansett Tribe screwed by state (11/15)

"Well, you all drank the Kool-Aid. The Narragansett tribe hasn't always been under the best management, but they have been completely screwed over by the government of Rhode Island. Then, sometime last year, they actually...

Opinion: Voter hypocrisy on gaming in Maine (11/14)

"It's time to take off our hats of hypocrisy. We sponsor state lottery games but oppose slot machines. We rake in $225 million a year from the Maine Lottery and wring our hands in worry...

Editorial: Clock ticking on deal with Seminole Tribe (11/13)

"Casinos traditionally have no clocks inside so the normal rhythms of time and deadlines won't divert gamblers' attention from the important business of losing their money. Similarly, Florida has been acting as if there were...

Letters: Unions and the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation (11/12)

SOVEREIGNTY: "The Mashantucket Pequot Tribe is poised, ready to cut and run to the United States Supreme Court if their employees vote a union in. Must be nice to have it both ways. If you...

Column: Class III not a sure thing in Florida (11/12)

"Don't bet on playing Vegas-style slots at a Seminole casino any time soon. The only sure thing – whether or not Gov. Charlie Crist and the tribe reach a gambling agreement before the latest...

Editorial: Mississippi Choctaws must heed vote (11/12)

"Gov. Haley Barbour and a solid majority of Jackson County voters have said they don't want casino gaming in their county But Mississippi Band of Choctaws Miko Beasley Denson plans to move forward with...

Opinion: A bad bet for gambling in Massachusetts (11/12)

"'Together we can' has somehow morphed into 'place your bets here,' as casino gambling now threatens to become Governor Deval Patrick's signature issue. One can understand why: The lure of hundreds of millions of...

Editorial: Approve off-reservation casino bill (11/09)

"Little by little, the odds for a Port Huron casino are beginning to improve. First, there was the important support U.S. Sen. Carl Levin gave the effort earlier this year, a setback to Detroit. Motor...

Mashantucket Tribe challenges NLRB on jurisdiction (11/09)

The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation of Connecticut says its sovereignty protects the Foxwoods Resort Casino from federal labor laws. In a 50-page request, the tribe says the National Labor Relations Board can't assert jurisdiction...

Opinion: Passamaquoddy Tribe will keep trying (11/09)

"In this time of economic woes for residents of Washington County, the majority of Down East Mainers rallied together in the hopes of averting their demise, but to no avail. Their conquest for jobs, income...

Editorial: Reach agreement with Seminole Tribe (11/08)

"A good poker player can sense an opponent's bluff, and Gov. Charlie Crist would be wise not to ask the U.S. Interior Department next Thursday to show its cards. A year has passed since...

Editorial: Wisconsin tribes deserve an answer (11/06)

"The St. Regis Mohawk Tribe of New York also has a favorable recommendation. And it has the strong support of New York officials, including Gov. Eliot Spitzer. Still, the feds sit on their hands....

Opinion: Forest County Potawatomi Tribe greed (11/05)

"The word "monopoly" has its origins in the Greek words for "one seller," and its definition is just that: the exclusive control by one company of a service or product. A politically powerful monopoly exists...

Editorial: Slow down Indian gaming in California (11/02)

"Let's face it: California has a gambling problem. Gaming in our state has grown too quickly, with too little accounting of the impacts. Yet, we're ready to embark on what critics have dubbed "the biggest...

Opinion: Stop Graton Rancheria casino (10/31)

"Since the Rohnert Park casino project was first introduced to the public four years ago, the size of the facility has gone from 350,000 square feet (2003) to 690,000 square feet (2005) to a monster...

Editorial: No racino for Passamaquoddy Tribe (10/31)

"Two wrongs don't make a right. In 2003, Maine voters approved a Bangor racino. That vote was promoted as a way to help the state's struggling harness racing industry. While it led to a resurgence...

Editorial: Say no to Mississippi Choctaw casino (10/29)

"Gov. Haley Barbour has brought some needed certainty to the debate about a proposed Choctaw casino in the now no-gaming Jackson County. Barbour says he will not allow a casino in Jackson County, even if...

Editorial: Unions don't infringe on sovereignty (10/29)

"It is difficult to see how abiding by National Labor Relations Board regulations at Foxwoods Resort Casino would in any significant way impair the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe's sovereignty. The NLRB has ruled that Foxwoods must...

Editorial: Vote yes on Passamaquoddy racino (10/25)

"Do you want to allow a Maine tribe to run a harness racing track with slot machines and high-stakes beano games in Washington County? The success of the slots facility in Bangor makes the question...

Tohono O'odham Chair: Gaming benefits many (10/24)

"As chairman of the Tohono O'odham Nation, I feel I must provide accurate information on Indian gaming. Indian gaming created our Fire Department. Our Police Department has tripled in size. Gaming revenues fund the nation's...

Editorial: Mississippi Choctaw ads 'offensive' (10/24)

"Television commercials promoting the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians' effort to put a casino in Jackson County are offensive. As opponents of the Choctaw casino, we would hardly be expected to agree with the tribe's...

Letter: Mississippi Choctaws sin by gambling (10/22)

"I would like for all to know that I love the Choctaw Indians. They are a people who have high hopes and aspirations for their families. They are a people who love this land and...

Opinion: Paper misrepresented Indian gaming (10/22)

Sheila Morago is the executive director of the Arizona Indian Gaming Association. "As one of many Native Americans in this state working to promote tribal self-sufficiency, I was appalled by the recent articles printed in...

Editorial: Passamaquoddy Tribe deserves gaming (10/22)

"Now, the Passamaquoddy tribe has brought to the ballot box a proposal for a harness racing park and slot-machine parlor in Washington County. We want to be clear: This newspaper has never editorialized in favor...

Editorial: No gaming for Shinnecock Nation (10/22)

"The odds of the Shinnecock Indian Nation’s building a casino at the Aqueduct Racetrack are long indeed. A tribal casino has to be on tribal land, and the Shinnecocks have no land in Queens....

Column: A casino in every corner of the world (10/19)

"First there was Las Vegas, City of Sin in the Nevada desert, the only gambling game in America. Then came Atlantic City, where gambling was supposed to revive a tawdry old seaside resort. It became...

Editorial: Passamaquoddy racino a bad bet (10/18)

"Across the United States, there are 36 racinos, which combine racetracks and casinos or slot machine parlors, now in operation. If the Passamaquoddy Tribe and its Downeast backers have their way, there soon will be...

Opinion: Indian gaming a success and a failure (10/18)

"When Congress passed the Indian Gaming Rights Act (IGRA) in 1989 it meant to provide federally recognized Indian tribes with the opportunity to use gambling establishments as a way to secure financial independence. Almost 20...

Opinion: States can put a stop to Class III gaming (10/16)

"In Wednesday’s editorial about Florida’s proposal to allow expanded gambling on the Seminole reservation, you incorrectly claim “the state doesn’t have much real bargaining power” and suggest that Florida must cut a deal with the...

Editorial: Pokagon Band making good on promises (10/15)

"Spokesmen for the Pokagon Band of the Potawatomi Indians declared long before the Four Winds Casino Resort opened near New Buffalo that the band would be a responsible community member. Now it has begun to...

Rep. Campbell: Gaming and federal recognition (10/15)

"By now you may have heard that there are several groups trying to get federal recognition as the federally sanctioned Juaneno Indian Tribe in Orange County. It is very clear that the groups seeking recognition...

Editorial: Gaming tribes blinded by bigger profits (10/15)

"The gambling tribes running casinos in California operate with one basic rule in mind: The more money they get, the more money they want. It's a strategy that has made their members rich and turned...

Editorial: Massachusetts gaming bill not perfect (10/12)

"Gov. Deval Patrick made it official yesterday, filing legislation to support his plan to allow up to three resort casinos in Massachusetts. Naturally the multi-layered bill reflects the enormous complexity of the issue. But in...

Blog: Gaming plan wipes out tribal sovereignty (10/12)

"Governor Deval Patrick has unveiled his casino legislation, "AN ACT ESTABLISHING AND REGULATING RESORT CASINOS IN MASSACHUSETTS." In the title of the bill the governor is making clear his intentions to eliminate Massachusetts cities from...

Editorial: More gaming on the way in Florida (10/11)

"We knew, like it or not, that more Las Vegas-style gambling is on the way for Florida. When the U.S. Interior Department tells Florida to strike a deal, or else, with the Seminole Tribe of...

Opinion: Mississippi Choctaw casino a good bet (10/09)

"Since 1992, more than $15 billion has been generated statewide in gross gaming revenues, and the gaming industry has created more than 45,700 jobs with a payroll of $1.1 billion through direct and indirect employment....

Editorial: States on a roll when it comes to gaming (10/09)

"The number of gaming sites in Oklahoma has climbed past 90, part of a nationwide expansion in gambling that only continues to grow. Some form of gaming — lottery, casinos, racinos — is conducted in...

Editorial: No Class III compact for Seminole Tribe (10/09)

"Tourists who visit Florida and want to gamble will find that our state offers many opportunities for them to win or lose money. Gamblers can play poker, the Lottery, bingo, dominoes or the slots. They...

Column: State's cut at issue in Seminole compact (10/08)

"The state released the latest draft of a proposed 25-year gambling agreement with the Seminole Tribe of Florida last week, but it didn't include the most important thing: the amount of the state's cut. And...

Editorial: Gaming comes with a price in Massachusetts (10/08)

"Whether or not you believe building a gambling casino somewhere in Southeastern Massachusetts — either in New Bedford, Middleboro or someplace else — we hope you do not fall for the fiction being offered by...

Editorial: Make new recognized tribes wait for casinos (10/08)

"Given the billions of dollars at stake, it's not a surprise that about 200 Indian tribes have petitioned the federal government for official recognition of their tribes. With such recognition comes the ability to open...

Editorial: Seneca casino the best bet for Buffalo (10/08)

"Who wouldn’t be excited by the prospect of a $333 million hotel complex in Buffalo? The plan announced by the Seneca Nation of Indians this week looks like a welcome addition to the development...

Opinion: Poarch Creek Band sees amazing growth due to gaming (10/05)

"The Poarch Band of Creek Indians sure know how to throw a party. Friday night, the Tribe held a VIP grand opening for its new additions to the Creek Entertainment Center, The Taste Buffet and...

Editorial: Put the brakes on Seminole compact (10/03)

"As the Legislature begins its budget-cutting special session this week, a seven-page ruling by the Florida Supreme Court handed down Sept. 27 should put the breaks on any prospective "compact" between the governor and...

Florida AG: Gaming leads to increase in crime (10/02)

"As the Indian gaming debate simmers in Florida, there are significant issues to consider about expanding casino gambling throughout the state. With Las Vegas-style gambling prospects, citizens are raising concerns about public safety and consumer...

Opinion: A tribal casino is just like any other casino (10/01)

"The federal Court of Appeals has declared that, at least for labor law, tribal casinos are to be treated exactly the same as casinos that are owned by private citizens. In other words, a...

Rumsey Chair: Tribe strives to be a good neighbor (10/01)

"The Rumsey Rancheria Band of Wintun Indians appreciates the Bee's recent acknowledgments of our sincere and productive outreach to our Yolo County and Capay Valley neighbors. We share and value our stewardship over a unique...

Opinions: Unions at the Mashantucket casino (10/01)

With the United Auto Workers union is advancing its efforts at the casino owed by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, The New London Day publishes some opinions about working at the Foxwoods Resort Casino. The...

Editorial: Questions for Mississippi Choctaws (10/01)

"The Jackson County Board of Supervisors, citizens and the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians would have been best served if Supervisor Frank Leach had been allowed to ask his questions of Chief Beasley Denson. On...

Opinion: Rolling the dice in Massachusetts (09/28)

"Gov. Deval Patrick ended months of speculation last week when he announced plans to bring casino gambling to Massachusetts I, for one, believe the governor made the right decision. Whether you agree with casino gambling...

Editorial: Class III gaming rules case helps Florida (09/27)

"As Gov. Charlie Crist quietly negotiates with the Seminole Tribe on a deal that could open Las Vegas-style gaming at seven tribal casinos, Florida's horse and dog tracks are champing at the bit. If the...

Opinion: Pauma Band's casino expansion a threat (09/26)

"Many Pauma Valley residents and visitors want their elected and appointed government officials to act so that the big business of American Indian gaming does not result in deadlier business -- more traffic accidents, injuries...

Editorial: Wisconsin gaming figures don't add up (09/25)

"Fueled mainly by slot machines, Wisconsin's Indian casinos are doing a land office business, $1.3 billion last year alone. Now, state regulators need to do everything possible to ensure they're keeping up with that...

Editorial: More room for gaming in New England (09/24)

"In the winter of 1992, when the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation opened the doors at Foxwoods, skeptics wondered if they'd get enough customers to survive. The tribe got that, and more. And then when the...

Editorial: Cowlitz Tribe's end run on casino (09/21)

"Clark County Commissioner Marc Boldt was partly right this week when he said "The county's interests are better served by having no" agreement with the Cowlitz Tribe for a casino near La Center than having...

Editorial: No closed meetings on Choctaw casino (09/21)

"The Jackson County Board of Supervisors and the Mississippi Band of Choctaws are on target to meet in public session next week. However, public input will not be allowed as the supervisors meet with Choctaw...

Editorial: Progress on Rumsey Band casino talks (09/20)

"As Cache Creek Indian Casino embarks on another massive expansion, the tensions between the Indian tribe that owns the Yolo County gambling mecca and its rural neighbors have largely, but not entirely, disappeared. Part of...

Letter: Hypocrisy in opposition to Graton casino (09/20)

"I fail to appreciate the rationale behind the Argus-Courier’s continued campaign of opposition to the Rohnert Park casino. Every negative editorial features a laundry list of excellent generic anti-growth arguments opportunely directed against the casino...

Column: Taking a gamble in Massachusetts` (09/19)

"Governor Patrick said this week that "casino gambling is neither a cure-all nor the end of civilization." The disclaimer was followed by a bit of the-devil-made-him-do-it victimhood, and he obliquely blamed the Republican Weld, Cellucci,...

Editorial: Regulation of gaming in Massachusetts (09/18)

"Promising to proceed proceed "with care and transparency" on gambling, Governor Patrick yesterday provided an outline of his plan to license three resort casinos in Massachusetts. Not everyone was reassured, of course. It's way too...

Editorial: Rolling the dice in Massachusetts (09/17)

"Governor Patrick knows slot machines and table games are not the stuff of human ideals that he talked about in his campaign. But he also hopes to prod the economy while generating badly needed revenue...

Editorial: Slots and nothing more for Seminoles (09/17)

"It's easy to say what should be in the casino deal Gov. Crist negotiates with the Seminole Tribe of Florida. It's harder to figure out what kind of deal is possible. Blame murky laws exacerbated...

Column: Anna Nicole book goes easy on Seminoles (09/14)

"Seminole leaders and officials at the tribe's Hard Rock resort have let out a collective sigh of relief. Why? The first of several upcoming books about Anna Nicole Smith's last hours before OD'ing at the...

Letter: Compact with Seminole Tribe a no-brainer (09/14)

"I am picking myself up off the floor, because I was floored by the stupidity of the people who state they are against allowing the Seminole Tribe to have Las Vegas-style slot machines and a...

Editorial: Mashpees start gambling invasion (09/14)

"Gov. Deval Patrick is about to publicly clarify his views on the expansion of gambling in Massachusetts. At stake is a proposal of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe to construct a resort casino in the town...

Editorial: Anti-gaming crusaders in Florida (09/12)

"The anti-gambling crusade is on again in Tallahassee. As usual, the crusaders are wrong — just as in the days when ex-Gov. Jeb Bush and his pals in the Legislature railed against the evils of...

Editorial: Gaming not going away in Rhode Island (09/11)

"It looks like the Narragansett Indian tribe is out of the running as far as a Rhode Island casino is concerned. They had their shot and they lost. For whatever reason, voters convincingly rejected their...

Letter: Mashantucket Tribe values casino workers (09/10)

"The front-page story titled “Unions on casinos' doorstep,” published Sept. 3, contained a serious misstatement of fact that needs to be addressed. The story quoted a union leader as saying Foxwoods employees fell into a...

Editorial: Don't keep Choctaw casino meetings secret (09/10)

"Local business, elected leaders and the Choctaws ought to keep their discussions about a possible casino in Jackson County public. Casino supporters and opponents will best serve their causes by open meetings and full disclosure....

Editorial: Delay decision on Massachusetts gaming (09/10)

"Gov. Deval Patrick was wise to delay his decision on casino gambling in Massachusetts until later in the month, saying that he still has more information to wade through. This is a decision that will...

Editorial: Sign compact with Seminole Tribe (09/07)

"It's the sad truth, but it is in Florida's best interest for Gov. Charlie Crist to strike a deal with the Seminole Tribe of Florida to allow Las Vegas-style gambling at tribe casinos. That's because...

Column: Walk away from gaming in Massachusetts (09/06)

"If Governor Deval Patrick is still unsure about casino gambling, he should follow that wise instinct and walk away from it now. Why take two more weeks to ponder the issue? The arguments for and...

Editorial: Secret negotiations for Graton casino (09/05)

"In a welcome attempt to defend Sonoma County from the specter of a gargantuan Las-Vegas style casino complex proposed in Rohnert Park, North Bay Assemblyman Jared Huffman last week raised legitimate concerns in challenging Governor...

Editorial: Rhode Island's hypocrisy on gaming (09/04)

"The Carcieri administration is pumping out some industrial-strength hypocrisy these days about casino gambling. The governor ardently opposed a Narragansett Indian casino in West Warwick last year. But he seems to have had no problems...

Editorial: Gambling a bad way to fund government (09/04)

"In 2006 the industry succeeded in getting a referendum passed in Broward County allowing Vegas-style slot machines at existing race tracks and jai alai frontons there - a total of four facilities. Because federal law...

Opinion: Gambling on greed in Massachusetts (09/04)

"Just a few weeks ago Glenn Marshall was riding high. The ponytailed chairman of the Mashpee Wampanoag tribal council had won a contentious vote by residents of the town of Middleborough, Massachusetts, to build a...

Editorial: Florida tribes have upper hand on gaming (08/28)

"It's understandable If Floridians are unsure of what to think about Gov. Charlie Crist's negotiations with the state's Indian tribes to allow Las Vegas-style gambling in the numerous reservation casinos around the state. Because so...

Editorial: Florida governor drinks the Kool-Aid (08/27)

"Uh-oh. One little financial thirst, and Gov. Crist already is reaching for the gambling Kool-Aid. The governor and the Seminole Tribe of Florida are working on an agreement that would allow the tribe more gambling...

Opinions: Don't balance budget on Seminole Tribe (08/23)

Florida Today: "Gov. Charlie Crist suggested Tuesday that a deal allowing the Seminole Tribe to run Las Vegas-style slot machines could plug a budget hole of up to $700 million in public school funding. Someone...

Letter: Gambling a bad bet for state of Florida (08/23)

"During his campaign for governor, Charlie Crist promised to exercise his authority as Florida's chief executive to reform real-estate taxes, reduce insurance rates and fight to reduce crime. I believed him. My bad. Now he...

Editorial: Keep tribal casino employee records open (08/22)

"The state should not entertain watering down the state's open government law simply because it may be inconvenient for executives at Foxwoods Resort Casino. Foxwoods President and Chief Executive Officer John A. O'Brien recently wrote...

Editorial: Limit Seminole Tribe to slot machines (08/22)

"Citing federal law, the Seminoles argue that if Florida allows Las Vegas-style games anywhere, the tribe has the right to offer the so-called "Class III" games at its casinos on sovereign land. Until now, the...

Editorial: Gambling fever spreads in New England (08/20)

"Up to now, the eastern Massachusetts town of Middleboro was best known for cranberries. But if the town has its way, it could be in line to become home to the first Massachusetts casino. Last...

Editorial: Strong month at Connecticut casinos (08/17)

"Most of us cannot even comprehend how much money $1 billion is. But many of us and visitors from elsewhere pumped that much into Mohegan Sun in July, setting a new record. And that was...

Editorial: Class III machines better for Oklahoma (08/16)

"Gaming in Oklahoma started with Class II machines, and they are a favorite with many people. No one knows exactly how the changes, which should be more than a year in coming, will affect their...

Column: Massachusetts headed for heartache (08/13)

"From what little I’ve seen, Massachusetts is heading into heartache. I feel sorry for the people of Middleboro, who bought into a glitzy package from the Mashpee Wampanoag Indians. It reminds me of West Warwick...

Opinion: Florida tribes can afford casino tax (08/13)

"As the state of Florida negotiates a compact with the Indian tribes regarding the taxation of tribal casinos, it should avoid the mistakes of other states, most of which have left billions of dollars on...

Editorial: Big decision on gaming in Massachuetts (08/09)

"Governor Patrick owes Massachusetts residents more than a simple "go" or "no go" on casino gambling by his self-imposed deadline of Labor Day. If Patrick nixes the idea, the public will want to know how...

Editorial: Saginaw Chippewa success helps all (08/08)

"There's certainly a lot of crummy economic news going around, mostly about the domestic automakers. But it appears there's at least one growth industry in Michigan -- casinos. The state already has 21 of them,...

Editorial: Embrace benefits of Indian gaming (08/06)

"Funny how a little competition can make an issue look different. July 28, the people of Middleboro, Mass., approved an agreement with the Mashpee Wampanoags to build a $1 billion casino in their town. In...

Opinion: Support compact for Gun Lake Tribe (08/06)

"Federal law dictates that Indian tribes have the right to operate gaming as a means of economic development in states where such gaming is allowed for any purpose, by any person, organization or entity. The...

Column: Casino out of the gate in Massachusetts (08/06)

"I was resting easy, thinking repeated efforts to make the Bay State a Biloxi North were just the serenades of gamblers and tax foes. Then came the Wampanoags to Middleborough and we're off to the...

Opinion: Gaming won't solve Florida's problems (08/06)

"The U.S. Interior Department has told Gov. Charlie Crist's office the state has until mid-August to reach a compact with the Florida Seminole Tribe regarding expanded gambling at their six casinos. Tribes that sign compacts...

Opinion: Off-reservation casino mocks Indian gaming (08/03)

"The fact that it is even possible to create Indian lands and assemble a federally recognized Indian tribe where neither previously existed, and to do so solely for the purpose of creating a casino, is...

Opinion: Why rush to gaming in Massachusetts? (08/02)

"Say it ain't so. The Boston Globe has endorsed casino expansion, giving state leaders who have remained silent a free pass on this failed business/economic development strategy. As with prior casino proposals in Massachusetts, the...

Column: Class III gaming for tribes in Florida (08/01)

"Will full Vegas gambling action -- blackjack, roulette and craps -- soon be coming to an Indian tribal casino near you? Listening to Governor Gov. Charlie Crist on Monday, it sounds like a distinct possibility....

Column: Massachuetts years behind on gaming (08/01)

"It all sounded rather logical, this scenario for making sense of casino gambling here in Massachusetts as outlined by state Treasurer Tim Cahill. In the wake of Saturday’s 2-1 approval of a casino for the...

Editorial: Creating housing for casino employees (07/31)

"Executives at Foxwoods Resort Casino know more housing is needed to accommodate the casino's growing workforce. That point became clear in a meeting last week between casino executive's and The Day editorial board. More importantly,...

Editorial: Reject casinos in Massachusetts (07/31)

"The town of Middleborough, lured by the promise of fool's gold, voted Saturday at a town meeting to sign an agreement with the Wampanoag Indians that will bring the state's first casino to the small...

Opinion: Stop gambling with the Catawba Nation (07/30)

"A new push for Catawba bingo is on in Marion, to get beach traffic. The anti-gamblers again are spoiling for a fight. Where are the politicians who agreedto bingo 14 years ago? The only legal...

Column: Gaming growing everywhere in Michigan (07/30)

"Michigan has 17 casinos, including three in Detroit, several in the Upper Peninsula and a string of them up and down the west side of the state. There are casinos just about everywhere in Michigan...

Editorial: More room for growth in tribal gaming (07/27)

"According to an economist’s report on the gambling industry, tribal casinos saw a decrease in revenue growth and a decline in the number of gambling sites being opened in 2006. Does that mean the saturation...

Editorial: Mashpee Wampanoag casino a no-brainer (07/27)

"The townspeople of Middleboro will gather tomorrow in Town Meeting to decide on the fate of a $1 billion casino proposed by the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe. As to the merits of the case, well, frankly...

Editorial: Right time for gaming in Massachusetts (07/26)

"For months, state officials have been poring over studies on casino gambling, in anticipation of yesterday's briefing for Governor Patrick. Between now and Labor Day, the governor will be wading through material on regulatory issues,...

Column: Rush to judgement on Mashpee casino (07/26)

"Oh, the blunder of it all. Gambling proponents in Middleborough are pushing hard for a casino. They want a Massachusetts version of the wonder of it all at Foxwoods and the world at play at...

Opinion: California tribes have upheld commitments (07/23)

"At the end of June 2007, Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez (D.-Los Angeles) announced that a side deal had been worked out with four of the five tribes. The tribes agreed their casinos could be...

Editorial: Town ignores impact of Mashpee casino (07/23)

"Middleboro officials, so blinded by the riches that may be coming their way with a new casino, have done little outreach to determine what impact the billion-dollar facility would have on surrounding towns. So Lakeville...

Opinion: Mashpee Wampanoag casino good for town (07/18)

"As a resident of Middleboro, I feel strongly that the people of our community be left alone to make decisions regarding our community. Recently, several neighboring towns have begun to insert themselves into an issue...

Editorial: UKB casino in Arkansas a good idea (07/17)

"In the world of Indian gaming, a pair of aces is a winning hand — if those aces happen to be governors. Last week, the news came down that the Eastern Oklahoma office of the...

Column: A desperate bid for Mashpee casino (07/17)

"I wouldn't think that Mayor Thomas M. Menino gets out to Suffolk Downs very often, but it is clear that the interests of the old place aren't far from his thoughts. That's why Menino seized...

Editorial: Study impact of Indian gaming (07/16)

"After a decade-long hiatus, the General Assembly agreed this year to go ahead with a fresh study of the impact of gambling on Connecticut. The study at last will bring the state into conformity with...

Column: Union inevitable at Mashantucket casino (07/16)

"In response to John O'Brien's open memorandum to all Foxwoods Resort Casino employees discouraging enrolling in a union, I would like to retort with a few of my own views on the subject. Having been...

Editorial: Deal with Mashpee Wamapanoag Tribe (07/16)

"Massachusetts officials must come to some accommodation with the tribe on the issue of slot machines - because it’s the right thing to do and because it’s the smart thing to do. At the same...

Editorial: Negotiate with Seminole Tribe (07/13)

"It started off negatively enough, but credit the Seminole Tribe of Florida with finally coming up with the right game plan. The tribe shut down its high-stakes poker games to comply with state law. The...

Editorial: Pay attention to Choctaw casino vote (07/12)

"Even though the new chief of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians says a vote in Jackson County on the tribe's casino plan won't matter, the outcome will send a clear signal to the politicians....

Column: Democrats appease wealthy gaming tribes (07/12)

"I’m not angry with Steve Maviglio for branding me on a Democratic Party blog as the “worst” political journalist in the state. In fact, the guy’s got nothing but my sympathy. As top enforcer for...

Editorial: Right call on Gila River casino move (07/10)

"It’s heartening to watch whenever any body, whether it’s a person or a governmental entity, realizes that it won’t hurt to be a little flexible, and chooses to adjust their plans for the good of...

Column: Union sees jackpot at Mashantucket casino (07/10)

"It's hard to think of a business in Connecticut more ripe for a labor union than Foxwoods Resort Casino. The jobs cannot be outsourced. The casino owners, the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe, control a gambling monopoly....

Opinion: Choctaw casino in hands of new chief (07/09)

"The election of a new chief of the Choctaw Tribe has brought to light some facts the people of Jackson County need to fully understand. Chief Martin, whom everyone believed spoke for the entire tribe,...

Column: Gun Lake Tribe on the way to a casino (07/09)

"The Gun Lake casino is just over the horizon. It's hard to believe anything else. In a few months, the U.S. District Court of Appeals in Washington most likely will rule in the tribe's...

Seneca Leaders: Tribe committed to Buffalo (07/06)

"The inner harbor area of downtown Buffalo witnessed an important event this week. The Seneca Nation has honored a promise to develop a casino and create new jobs in the City of Buffalo. The temporary...

Column: Mashantuckets want to stay union-free (07/06)

"Jay Leno once refused to appear at a Las Vegas convention for human resource managers in which one of the seminars, “How To Stay Union Free,” was to be run by the renowned union-busting law...

Editorial: Resolve Ho-Chunk Nation compact (07/06)

"It's difficult not to empathize with the Ho-Chunk Nation on why it will not pay the more than $70 million the state says it owes on its casino revenue. After all, that amount was predicated...

Editorial: Casino location all about the money (07/05)

"Mashpee Wampanoag tribe Chairman Glenn Marshall and the Mohegan Sun casino investors are certainly exercising their inalienable right to place capital gain above all other values. Mr. Marshall said this week in a public radio...

Editorial: Casinos on the horizon in Massachusetts (07/05)

"The Mashpee Wampanoags have acquired 500 acres for a casino in Middleboro and the Aquinnah Wampanoags have plans of their own. Now one of the world's leading casino operators is talking to the Patrick Administration...

Column: Democratic leader chooses tribes over labor (07/05)

"When I wrote in these pages a couple of weeks ago that California Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez was on the verge of selling out his longtime union allies and was ready to green-light the largest...

Deron Marquez: Indian gaming won't last forever (07/03)

"Someday, it may be said that fading to completion was inevitable. In 1856, Indian Affairs Commissioner Alfred Cummings foresaw the treaty making process as a direct relationship to slowly erode the political fabric known as...

Editorial: Gaming compacts benefit California (07/02)

"The influence of the Indian tribes in this area has reached a whole new level. The fact that the state Legislature approved the expansion of gaming for a handful of tribes is huge for...

Perspectives: Tribal gaming in Connecticut (06/25)

The New London Day publishes three perspectives on the impact of tribal gaming in Connecticut. Charlene Jones, a council member for the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, says the tribe is committed to the state....

Editorial: Cowlitz Tribe's casino bad for county (06/25)

"Clark County commissioners have been handed a golden opportunity. They can stand up and tell the federal government that it's a bad idea to allow for a sprawling casino that would be a gold mine...

Rumsey Chair: Tribe will address casino impacts (06/22)

"The Rumsey Band of Wintun Indians appreciates the thoughts expressed in the June 10 Daily Democrat editorial and in your June 11 analysis story regarding the proposed new plans for our Cache Creek Casino Resort....

Letter: Buena Vista Band's only business a casino (06/21)

"There is a conflict in Amador County supporting the Chamber of Commerce appointment of the Buena Vista Band of MeWuk Indians' tribal representative John Tang to its tourism committee, while at the same time fighting...

Editorial: Gaming boom in Massachusetts (06/21)

"A year ago, Rhode Island was the southern New England battleground over casinos, until voters in November rejected a proposal by Harrah’s and the Narragansett Indians. Today, Massachusetts is where the action is. The very...

Editorial: Summit shows importance of tribes (06/19)

"Finally, there are some hard statistics to prove what many have guessed. The casinos are a tremendous economic engine -- not just in Eastern Connecticut, but in the state. Together, Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods Resort...

Opinion: Investigate California gaming compacts (06/19)

"The road to ratification of tribal casino expansion deals leading to Sacramento and of the largest expansion of gambling in American history is littered with private deals, silenced communities, co-opted police, media, local governments and...

Editorial: Connecticut tribes power the economy (06/18)

"Connecticut's lawmakers need to pay more attention to one of the most powerful economic forces in the state — Indian gaming. That was the resounding message sent last Thursday at the first-ever Native American Economic...

Editorial: Cowlitz Tribe needs new neighborhood (06/18)

"More than once in The Columbian’s editorial denunciation of the Cowlitz Tribe’s proposed casino we’ve mentioned a comment made by Jim Cason in February, 2006, when the U.S. Interior Department’s associate deputy secretary visited here....

Column: Talking about the good and bad of gaming (06/15)

"What's more unlikely: Indians conducting a sacred "smudging" ceremony near the banks of the Connecticut River in Hartford - or people actually talking to tribal leaders about the impact of their gambling casinos? Actually, through...

Editorial: Massachusetts in hot seat on gaming (06/12)

"Although the Mashpee Wampanoag have negotiated for a Middleboro casino expected to win local approval tomorrow, they still need the blessing of state law. Massachusetts has a critical decision to make. State Treasurer Timothy Cahill's...

Letter: Listen to all sides of tribal gaming debate (06/11)

"The potential selection of Middleborough as the location of a Mashpee Wampanoag resort casino has sparked an enormous interest in the future of our town. The No Casino supporters are very worried and have completely...

Editorial: Caution on Rumsey Band casino expansion (06/11)

"The Rumsey Band of Wintun Indians showed off expansion plans this week to expand the Cache Creek Casino Resort to a "world-class destination resort." The proposed expansion includes 467 additional hotel rooms and 27 hillside...

Column: Gambling fever in Massachuetts (06/07)

"The Bay State's top politicians are betting on quick, easy cash for the Commonwealth, beyond what the state lottery brings in. State Treasurer Timothy Cahill recently endorsed a casino or two. He argues that the...

Column: Gaming is coming to Massachusetts (06/04)

"While Rhode Islanders pushed casino gambling away by soundly defeating a ballot proposal by the Narragansett Indians and Harrah’s Entertainment to build a complex in West Warwick, Massachusetts is moving toward legalized gambling. If...

Editorial: Unions are infiltrating tribal casinos (06/04)

"Employees everywhere are feeling the pinch of the increased cost of doing business in America. So it is not surprising that the United Auto Workers and other unions are organizing workers at Foxwoods Resort Casino....

Opinion: Ignorance and bliss on California gaming (06/04)

"Whoever coined the phrase "Ignorance is bliss" must have been talking about the 35 million Californians trusting that their elected officials are actually doing their jobs with respect to gambling casinos run by Indian tribes...

Editorial: Cowlitz Tribe in the wrong place (06/04)

"According to the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act passed by Congress in 1988, tribal casinos are meant to serve as "a means of promoting tribal economic development, self-sufficiency and strong tribal governments." That is a noble...

Editorial: Stealing from tribal casinos hurts many (06/01)

"Last week, federal prosecutors revealed that grand juries had indicted 24 people suspected of carrying out a massive, multi-state scam that targeted 18 casinos and stole more than $3 million. As it turned out, a...

Editorial: Delay is the 'new' strategy at the BIA (05/31)

"Once again, tribal and municipal leaders have made the long trip to the nation's capital in an effort to move along Beloit's application for a casino and related entertainment attractions. And, once again, the visit...

Column: Indian gaming generates wealth (05/31)

"In California v. Cabazon Band of Mission Indians, the court ruled that if a state permitted certain forms of gambling, tribes in that states could offer the same, without any regulatory control by the state....

Editorial: Gaming for Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe (05/31)

"The Mashpee Wampanoags, recently recognized by the federal government as a legitimate Native American tribe, plan to build a gambling operation, most likely on 350 acres of land it purchased in Middleborough. Because of its...

Column: Small tribes get small share of gaming funds (05/30)

"Fifty-eight of the state's 107 tribes currently operate casinos. Under terms of the 1999 state-tribal compacts, most of the casino tribes pay into a fund that supplies the noncasino tribes most of which are too...

Editorial: Oppose Graton Rancheria casino (05/30)

"Plans by an Indian tribe and powerful Las Vegas gaming firm intent on ramming a gargantuan casino complex onto farmland west of Rohnert Park demonstrate how bad laws, money and political influence are overwhelming, and...

Opinion: Deal with Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe (05/29)

"With the federal government recognizing the Mashpee Wampanoags as a tribe, whether Massachusetts should or shouldn’t allow expanded gambling is no longer the argument. It is about where to put it and how the...

Opinion: Time running out on Barstow casinos (05/29)

"For almost two years, a pair of Indian tribes have watched their gaming agreements sit in limbo in the Legislature. And time may be running out. On this morning's edition of The California Report,...

Opinion: Rhetoric on Mississippi Choctaw casino (05/28)

"In the interest of fairness, I would like to throw my two cents in concerning the casino proposed by the Choctaw Tribe. It seems that few people remember that back during this country's great expansion...

Editorial: Redding Rancheria takes gamble (05/28)

"Crowded parking lots at nearly every casino in California testify to gambling's popularity, but the competition remains fierce for the player's dollar. With an eye on Rolling Hills Casino in Tehama County and its rapid...

Opinion: Major flaws with California compacts (05/25)

"This report demonstrates why the compacts negotiated with five tribes by Governor Schwarzenegger in 2006 should be rejected by the Legislature. Although increased state revenue sharing is the principal argument in favor of the...

Editorial: Mashpee Tribe deserves shot at casino (05/25)

"The Mashpee Wampanoags yesterday marked their first official day as a federally recognized Indian tribe and Treasurer Tim Cahill celebrated . . . by wrestling away the spotlight. In a speech at the Greater Boston...

Opinion: Tribes and the Internet gaming ban (05/25)

"Documents released in the press clearly show the involvement of some of the Indian tribes with the famous lobbyist Jack Abramoff and even the White House. We will not go into details about these...

Editorial: Mashpee Wampanoag casino promises (05/24)

"Whether the Mashpee Wampanoags build a casino in New Bedford, Middleboro, or elsewhere, municipal officials who serve as the residents' negotiators will face the challenge of ensuring that the good intentions professed by Tribal Council...

Opinion: New gaming compacts bad for California (05/24)

"In addition to establishing the all-important number of slot machines allowed, California gaming compacts can regulate nearly every other aspect of casino operations. States can require tribes to reach agreements with local governments about...

Editorial: Tribes should pay for impacts of casinos (05/23)

"Among the unfortunate aspects of Gov. Schwarzenegger's budget is its reliance on a vast expansion of tribal casino gambling to reinforce the state's revenues. There's nothing wrong with consenting adults enjoying a game of chance,...

Editorial: GOP wrong to attack Alaska Native status (05/21)

"In fighting the Eklutna Natives' Indian gambling proposal, House Speaker John Harris and Sen. President Lyda Green have reopened an old wound. They are using Eklutna's gambling application to question the federal government's long-standing decision...

Opinion: Negotiate new California casino deals (05/21)

"Two recent events suggest the tide may be turning against the governor’s proposal to grant lucrative expansion deals to the State’s five richest tribes. First, on Saturday, the Morongo Tribe abruptly pulled its $20 million...

Editorial: Quapaw Tribe's 'exciting' casino plan (05/18)

"Officials of the Quapaw Tribe of Oklahoma have unveiled plans for a stunning $200 million resort casino, complete with a high-rise hotel, restaurants, shopping centers and an entertainment venue. When the casino complex opens on...

Editorial: Compromise over Lytton Band casino (05/14)

"For years, political battle over San Pablo's Indian casino has been waged between those who wanted to expand it and those who wanted to close it. The long and heated dispute now seems to have...

Agua Caliente Chair: Gaming regulation extensive (05/14)

"There has been much written regarding the five tribal gaming compact amendments currently being considered for ratification by the California Assembly. I am chairman of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians. While our Tribal...

Rose: The fight over gaming compacts in California (05/14)

"The California State Legislature is debating whether to allow a few tribes to greatly expand the number of slot machines in their casinos in return for sharing up to 25 percent of the revenue...

Editorial: Opposition to Cowlitz Tribe's casino (05/09)

"Take a strong, unified stand. Too often that powerful tactic is overlooked by governmental bodies. Not so Monday night at the Vancouver City Council meeting, when members voted unanimously to oppose a proposed Cowlitz casino...

Editorial: Off-reservation gaming gets harder (05/08)

"Two decades ago, the U.S. Supreme Court opened the doors for Indian tribes to operate casinos, and the benefits have been impressive. Many tribes have converted the public's appetite for betting into a reliable revenue...

Column: UKB casino up against the 'Jesus' vote (05/08)

"I'm always intrigued when the two dominant forces of modern American conservatism -- the business vote and the 'Jesus' vote -- get off the same page, as appears to be happening in Fort Smith....

Editorial: Gaming compacts good for California (05/07)

"Last summer, Schwarzenegger struck deals with five Southern California tribes allowing them to expand their gambling operations well beyond their original limits. From 10,000 slot machines, they would be able to install 32,000 — enough...

Editorial: New gaming deals horrible for California (05/07)

"Perhaps you've seen the new 60-second TV spots: a bald eagle soars, a narrator talks about the jobs and opportunity that casinos have brought to California and the additional benefits that new agreements reached with...

Column: State pressures Oneida Nation on gaming (05/07)

"Over the last couple of years, the highest federal and state courts have clearly determined that the land Turning Stone sits on is not sovereign Oneida land. Only sovereign Indian land is eligible for a...

Opinion: Government scams poor through gaming (05/03)

"Some scandals don't involve illegal activity -- they're just outrageous and unjust. Take gambling in America. Abetted by Congress, legislatures from 48 states now sponsor gambling operations and lottery monopolies to balance their budgets on...

Editorial: More opposition to Cowlitz Tribe's casino (05/02)

"It was no surprise that Vancouver Mayor Royce Pollard on Monday declared himself against the proposal by the Cowlitz Tribe's David Barnett and the ­Mohegan Tribe of Connecticut to build a sprawling casino-hotel complex near...

Editorial: Gaming and Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe (05/01)

"As in the past, we continue to have grave concerns about the value of casino gambling in Massachusetts. Opponents say gamers treat a casino as an all-inclusive destination and don't spend much money at surrounding...

Editorial: Gaming compacts are bad for California (04/30)

"Listen closely, and you can hear a "ka-ching" sound emanating from the state Capitol. Armed with a jackpot of campaign dollars, wealthy Indian tribes are pressuring key state leaders to approve one of the largest...

Opinion: Racism behind denial of tribal gaming (04/30)

"Maine's Indians are much more visible, both in the modern world and in the state's history, than are tribes elsewhere in New England. They have been able to preserve much of their heritage. But they...

Opinion: Casino not smartest option for Catskills (04/30)

"Eearlier this year, Gov. Eliot Spitzer reached an agreement with the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe that brought New York one step closer to having a $600 million Las Vegas-style casino in Sullivan County, in...

Column: Tribal warfare over compacts in California (04/26)

"Even with the current housing slump, a paltry $1.6 million still won’t buy you much of a house on the Westside. Maybe an older 3 + 2 with a fiberglass carport. Better to invest your...

Editorial: Support Keetoowah casino in Arkansas (04/24)

"Right now, hundreds — go count the license plates if you don’t believe us — of Arkansans head to the casinos each day to gamble. Those dollars are not being spent in Arkansas, not being...

Opinion: Illogical opposition to Menominee casino (04/24)

"As a rule of thumb, I do not do what TV tells me to do, but I did act on a TV ad's pleas to go online to learn more about "what's really going on"...

Editorial: Stop expansion of gaming in Maine (04/23)

"Mike Peters of Dixfield is not only smart, he's honorable. Both of those qualities led Peters, a member of the Maine Gambling Control Board, to quit that board recently. In his resignation letter to Gov....

Editorial: Reject expanded gaming in Maine (04/19)

"It has become increasingly popular, at all ends of the state, to equate gambling with economic development. With Bangor city officials and their local newspaper licking their chops over Hollywood Slots reporting annual revenues of...

Column: Lining up for the jackpot in California (04/16)

"The thing politicians like best about legal gambling is that it's an opportunity to put their fingers in your pockets without leaving prints. Take the lottery. You plunk down a buck for a ticket. About...

Column: St. Regis Mohawk Tribe waits on Kempthorne (04/16)

"According to the St. Regis Mohawks, the tribe's casino project at the Monticello Gaming & Raceway won't live or die on what Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne thinks about it. Two tribal chiefs said yesterday...

Column: California tribes learn to play the game (04/16)

"You'd think the millions of dollars the tribes deposit in the state coffer would be enough incentive for our selfless representatives in Sacramento to allow American Indians pretty much free rein when it comes...

Editorial: Help Passamaquoddy Tribe with gaming (04/13)

"Both the House and Senate have given initial approval to a citizen’s initiative from the Passamaquoddy Tribe that would authorize slot machines at a tribal commercial racetrack in Washington County, a region that has long...

Column: Reject expansion of gaming in Maine (04/12)

"Maine voters made a big mistake when they approved this bait-and-switch operation while rejecting the Indian casino three-and-a-half years ago. The schizophrenic decision paved the way for a big-time slot machine operation in Bangor and...

Editorial: Shingle Springs casino missing water (04/12)

"The Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians finally has everything set in place to build its casino off Highway 50 in El Dorado County. The tribe has a court-blessed environmental document. It has an agreement...

Letter: Wealthy gaming tribe gets federal dollars (04/10)

"A recent article reports that the Seminole Indian tribe purchased Hard Rock International for $965 million. This article reports that the tribe pays each member $42,000 per year from its casino profits. It states, “They...

Column: Dorsey & Whitney loses ethics case (04/10)

"Dorsey & Whitney failed to tell a corporate client that it may have given bad advice, even after it recognized the problem, a federal judge ruled Monday in a legal-ethics case that has Twin Cities...

Opinion: Mohegan Tribe stirs the pot in Wisconsin (04/10)

"A red plague spreads from Connecticut “sucking billions from Massachusetts.” It soon overwhelms New York and New Jersey as a munching sound crescendos toward the announcer’s foreboding prose. It darts into the heart of Pennsylvania....

Opinion: Gaming benefits St. Regis Mohawk Tribe (04/06)

"I am writing in response to a column published in the Times Herald-Record on March 25, written by Doug George, "Not all Mohawks agree with tax concession for casino." I am a senior citizen and...

Editorial: Torres-Martinez casino a major step (04/05)

"A new chapter in the storied history of the Torres-Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians took shape Sunday afternoon when the familiar clang of coins and the ring of slot machines echoed inside the tribe's new Red...

Editorial: Oppose Graton Rancheria casino (04/04)

'For anyone with concerns about the many negative impacts that a proposed mega-casino in Rohnert Park would have on the quality of life in southern Sonoma County, now is the time to speak up. Public...

Column: Tribes upset with links to stripper website (04/02)

"Under the banner of “Foxwoods & Mohegan Sun Strippers,” this is a sampling of the service being sold for private parties in hotel rooms at the two casinos here: “Then the girls will offer lap...

Opinion: New approach to fight against tribal casino (04/02)

Note: Peter F. Secchia, a member of the anti-gaming group 23 is Enough, is a former U.S. ambassador and a major Republican donor. "The federal law that authorizes tribal casinos won't soon be changed. The...

Editorial: State obligated to help Catawba Nation (03/29)

"When the Catawba Indian Nation threatened to open a video poker casino on its York County reservation if the Legislature didn’t let it open a video bingo mega-casino at Santee, even some staunch gambling opponents...

Editorial: Negotiate deal with South Dakota tribes (03/26)

"Taken at face value, Gov. Mike Rounds' argument makes some sense. He says the state Constitution calls for limited gaming, so by golly, he's going to do all he can to limit gaming. Except, apparently,...

Opinion: A plan to move casinos to state border (03/26)

"There are about 17 tribal casinos in Wisconsin. All but one are unstrategically scattered on tribal reservations in 14 counties, cannibalizing Wisconsin discretionary income. Let's close half of the 16 casinos on reservations and put...

Opinion: Mohawks oppose Catskills casino deal (03/26)

"Not all Mohawks, not even a majority, support a Monticello casino if the last public meeting at the St. Regis Tribal Council is any indication. Confronted by the hostile crowd, tribal officials on March 3...

Mohawk Chiefs: Tribe shares vision for New York (03/26)

"On behalf of the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe, we would like to share with you information about our efforts to reinvigorate the economy in upstate New York and create a more secure and prosperous future...

Opinion: Where did Rhode Island gaming foes go? (03/20)

"In November 2006, the people of the state of Rhode Island made it very clear to the Narragansett Indian Tribe, the town of West Warwick and Harrah's Entertainment that they did not want a destination...

Editorial: Vote on Mississippi Choctaw casino (03/19)

"The Mississippi Band of Choctaws propose a $375 million casino on 100 acres the tribe owns off Miss. 57 near Interstate 10. Choctaw Chief Phillip Martin has stated the tribe will respect the wish of...

Interview: Sen. Schumer and off-reservation gaming (03/19)

The Middleton Times Herald-Record interviews Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-New York) about his efforts to secure federal approval for the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe's off-reservation casino in the Catskills. The casino has the support of state...

Editorial: Improve Gun Lake Tribe's compact (03/19)

"A newly inked agreement between Gov. Jennifer Granholm and the Gun Lake band of Pottawatomi Indians could yield a jackpot for Michigan. But one unnecessary provision threatens to put the state out of the game....

Editorial: Gila River Indian Community expansion (03/19)

"The Gila River Indian Community intends to relocate one of its successful casinos further away from Interstate 10, but closer to some of its regular customers from the south East Valley. As a sovereign...

Agua Caliente Chair: Gaming builds better future (03/16)

"Marc Cooper's tirade against tribal self-reliance misses the point that gaming produces billions of dollars a year in good salaries and benefits to employees, sales for local businesses, state taxes and direct aid to...

Opinion: New Mexico compact lax on regulation (03/15)

"Bugsy Siegel was the guy who turned Las Vegas, Nev., into the gambling mecca it is today. He did pretty much what he wanted in what was then pretty much trackless desert. Made a bunch...

Opinion: Debate New Mexico gaming compacts (03/14)

Guy Clark is the executive director of the New Mexico Coalition Against Gambling. "Because of a federal court ruling and inadequate proposed state regulation, New Mexico could get locked into 38-year tribal casino compacts with...

Editorial: Vote on Mississippi Choctaw casino (03/13)

Indianz.Com Casino StalkerTracking casino proposals across Indian Country. "The Jackson County Board of Supervisors ought to embrace an opinion from Attorney General Jim Hood that it can call a non-binding referendum on a proposed tribal...

Opinion: Does California need more tribal casinos? (03/12)

"The $7 billion that passes through California's Indian gaming facilities already surpasses the collective take of all the casinos on the Las Vegas Strip. Our state is home to more than 50 Nevada-style gambling resorts,...

Casino Roulette: Indian gaming in New York (03/12)

RESERVATION SHOPPING: "Earlier this year, Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthrone dealt a spanking to all tribes with dreams of an off-reservation casino. Don't bet on approval, he told 42 tribes seeking casinos, including The St. Regis...

Editorial: Don't complicate off-reservation casino (03/09)

"The danger in the ongoing scandal tied to a former developer connected with the Kenosha tribal casino plan, is that it could contribute to a toxic atmosphere that may spill over onto Beloit's by-the-book casino...

Editorial: Negotiate compact with Gun Lake Tribe (03/05)

"When it comes to a proposed casino in Allegan County, the old country song applies: You've got to know when to hold 'em. And know when to fold 'em. For Michigan, the time to fold...

Editorial: Tribes should pay for gambling addictions (03/05)

"A California Senate committee recently learned that while many of us love to gamble, quite a few suffer from addiction as casinos empty their pockets. The state's legal gambling operations make $13 billion a year...

Editorial: Stop gaming expansion in Washington (03/02)

"What's happening at the moment is within the tribal-casino sector of the state's gambling industry. The Gambling Commission and Gov. Chris Gregoire have approved a compact worked out with the Spokane Tribe that paves the...

Editorial: Newspaper trashes Mohawks on casino (03/02)

"There is outrage that ''news' organizations based in New York City purport to know anything true about the life of Mohawk people. There is plenty of anger and emotion, and rightly so, on both sides...

Opinion: Tribes battle over off-reservation casino (03/01)

"Seen those ads on television about stopping Native Americans from overrunning Beloit, Wis.? No, Chief Black Hawk has not returned to reclaim his beloved Sinnissippi Valley. Illiniwek ain’t moving across the border, and there’s no...

I. Nelson Rose: A tribal casino is just a casino (02/28)

"The most important federal Court of Appeals below the U.S. Supreme Court has declared that, at least for labor law, tribal casinos are to be treated exactly the same as casinos that are owned by...

Editorial: Gaming bubble not ready to burst (02/27)

"With so much potential wampum out there, it seems inevitable that more Indian casinos are coming. As the two big dogs in the fight, Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun are the subject of a lot of...

Editorial: Mohawk casino still a bad idea for state (02/26)

"Casinos in the Catskills were a bad idea when Gov. George Pataki proposed them, and they're still a bad idea, now that Gov. Eliot Spitzer has signed a compact with the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe...

Editorial: Mohawk casino a bad bet for New York (02/26)

"Gov. Eliot Spitzer unfortunately is following in the footsteps of his predecessor by betting on gambling as a savior of the state's dilapidated economy. That's the wrong direction. Gambling is a self-destructive behavior that ruins...

Editorial: Kempthorne should reject Mohawk casino (02/26)

"Gov. Eliot Spitzer has announced he wants a sprawling Indian casino in the Catskills. In order to get it, he plans to go to Washington to lobby the Secretary of the Interior for final approval....

Opinion: Indian gaming, 20 years after Cabazon (02/26)

"Indian gaming is the fastest-growing segment of legalized gambling in the United States, fed by our seemingly insatiable appetite for high-stakes poker, slots and even bingo. How did Indian gaming become a $25 billion industry...

Letters: New Yorkers not happy with Mohawk casino (02/26)

Tom Cahill: "New York taxpayers, especially, do not need to be in business with a tribe as disreputable as the St. Regis Mohawks." Daniel Aiello: "Casinos, especially those run by crooks, are not a...

Column: Catskills not jumping for joy on casino (02/22)

"You'll forgive folks in Sullivan County for not whooping it up after hearing that Gov. Eliot Spitzer had worked out a compact with the St. Regis Mohawks to open a $600 million casino at Monticello...

Column: Gaming on the table in Massachusetts (02/22)

"Bet on it. Casino gambling is on the table in Massachusetts. The Wampanoag Indians, among others connected to the gaming industry, are talking to Doug Rubin, one of Governor Deval Patrick's top campaign advisers, about...

Editorial: Bad move on St. Regis Mohawk casino (02/21)

"Gov. Spitzer is getting into bed with the St. Regis Mohawks, giving the green light to a partnership between the upstate Indian tribe and a private firm to build a $600 million casino at the...

Editorial: St. Regis Mohawk Tribe paid for casino (02/21)

"We have no problem with Indians, or anyone else, participating in the political process through campaign contributions. It is a First Amendment right. But if the idea is that allowing Indians to operate casinos is...

Editorial: Gaming expansion in Washington (02/20)

"Skip indignation and go straight to resignation. That is the best advice for anyone upset over expanding tribal gambling in Washington. The tribes and state government tussle over details, but the federal-backed house wins. Compacts...

Editorial: Spokane compact finally approved (02/14)

"The state Gambling Commission endorsed a long-awaited casino compact with the Spokane Tribe of Indians on Friday and before the 6-3 vote was even taken, a mantra of 'expanded gambling' was reverberating across the state....

Editorial: Vote on Choctaw off-reservation casino (02/12)

$stalker "A clarifying vote on gambling in Jackson County is needed as soon as possible. The Board of Supervisors' legal counsel is to report Monday as to what the county's legal options are on the...

Opinion: Indian gaming not a jackpot for all tribes (02/12)

"If you object to American Indian casinos, you might not laugh at a joke circulating in what is commonly called Indian Country. Among the 'Top 10 things you can say to a white person upon...

Editorial: Amend IGRA to ban reservation shopping (02/09)

$stalker "States that have casino gambling are obligated under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988 to negotiate compacts in good faith with tribes. Failure to do so lands the request with the U.S. Secretary...

Editorial: Snoqualmie Tribe closer to success (02/09)

"The Snoqualmie Tribe starts work later this month on the Eastside's first casino. Concern over gambling's expansion aside, this venture ought to succeed. After a naive business deal soured, the Snoqualmies paid $50.8 million for...

Editorial: Tribes shouldn't fight off-reservation casino (02/08)

$stalker "What happens in the state legislature this spring may make or break our chances of getting a casino in Barstow. The compacts with the state for the Los Coyotes and the Big Lagoon Rancheria...

Column: Compact fight looms large in California (02/05)

"The rather odd and often prickly relationship between the state of California and the state's casino-owning Indian tribes, as it always does, is looming large as the Legislature cranks up anew. Money -- big money...

Editorial: Welcome Eastern Cherokee expansion (02/02)

"The Eastern Band of Cherokee announced an expansion of the Harrah's Casino and Hotel that will bring 1,000 new jobs to Western North Carolina. The expansion could, no pun intended, give tribal leaders more chips...

Letter: IGRA benefits tribe, members and states (02/01)

"The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) was passed primarily to establish a baseline regulatory protocol that would ensure lawful gaming and generate self- sufficiency for Native Americans. The IGRA provides gaming regulatory protocol for economic...

Opinion: Put tribal nations in charge of gaming (01/31)

"I have a feeling that sooner or later, we are going to have casinos in Massachusetts. If so, I would like to see Gov. Deval Patrick boldly resolve the casino issue and boost the depleted...

Editorial: Study impact of gaming in Connecticut (01/29)

"Connecticut does not need the neon flash of the Las Vegas Strip to make money from gambling. Consider: Nevada, with its scores of casinos, took in tax revenue of about $1 billion last year. But...

Spokane Chairman: Gaming compact a good deal (01/29)

"It is a new day for the Spokane Tribe of Indians and for Eastern Washington. The Spokane Tribe and Washington State Gambling Commission negotiating representatives have recently reached an agreement on a proposed gaming compact....

Editorial: Judge off-reservation casino plans fairly (01/29)

Indianz.Com Casino StalkerTracking casino proposals across Indian Country. "For those who have watched the Beloit tribal casino plan plod along for years through the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs, one question must come to mind...

Editorial: Approve off-reservation casino (01/26)

Indianz.Com Casino StalkerTracking casino proposals across Indian Country. "The guessing is that, barring a major new effort to change his mind, Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle will give his blessing to a tribal casino in Beloit....

Column: Florida's senseless war against tribes (01/23)

"Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger just bet $509 million on California's Indian casinos. Schwarzenegger's state budget proposal includes $509 million in income from compacts the governor negotiated with five of the state's Indian tribes. California's Democrat-controlled Legislature...

Editorial: Negotiate compact with Florida tribes (01/22)

"Former Gov. Jeb Bush had months to negotiate a deal with the Seminole Tribe of Florida over the tribe's plan to operate casino-style slot machines at seven locations around Florida. He didn't. Now, the tribe...

Editorial: Sympathize with Maine tribe on casino (01/22)

"Now that Maine's secretary of state has validated enough petition signatures, in November the state's voters will see their third high-stakes gambling referendum in four years. This time, members of Maine's Passamaquoddy Indian tribe want...

Editorial: Off-reservation casino a strong case (01/16)

$stalker "It comes as no surprise that the Ho-Chunk Nation is serving notice of its intention to challenge the Beloit Casino Complex. There have been clear indications for some time that the Ho-Chunk - and,...

Spokane Chairman: Gaming compact a good deal (01/16)

"The small yet vocal group that criticizes the proposed gaming compact between the Spokane Tribe and the state ignores the benefits promised by the compact while leveling false allegations against the tribe. We appreciate the...

Editorial: Off-reservation casino a gamble (01/15)

"They were celebrating in Beloit, Wis., last week after the regional office of the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs signed off on a tribal casino that's been under consideration for more than five years. What...

Editorial: Foxwoods addresses employee issues (01/08)

"The sickout at Foxwoods Resort Casino threatened for New Year's Eve failed to materialize, and for good reason: While there is worker dissatisfaction with aspects of employment, the overwhelming number of workers understand that...

Editorial: Strengthen regulation of Indian gaming (01/02)

"The burgeoning Indian gambling industry has never gotten sufficient scrutiny from regulators at any level of government. A recent federal appeals court ruling ensures that it will get even less. In a decision that got...