New Mexico could get first off-reservation casino

Tuesday, August 17, 2004  

New Mexico could get its first off-reservation casino if a proposal by Jemez Pueblo is approved.

The tribe wanted to build closer to home, said Gov. Paul Chinana. But the reservation wasn't suitable for development, he said. Plus, the Albuquerque-area already has five casinos.

So, with the backing of an art dealer, the tribe is looking farther south, almost to the Texas border. The tribe says the casino would create 1,000 jobs.

Approval by the state and federal government is needed for off-reservation gaming. But Guy Clark of the New Mexico Coalition Against Gambling says it would lead to an unwanted spread of gaming in urban areas.

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Proposed Casino's Location Could Set Precedent (The Albuquerque Journal 8/17)