New Mexico tribe blasts revenue-sharing deals

Monday, December 6, 2004  

States have no right to take gaming revenues from tribes, the leader of a small New Mexico tribe says.

Pojoaque Pueblo Gov. George Rivera wrote a letter to state Gov. Bill Richardson (D). In the letter, Rivera did not rule out some form of payment to the state but said the current compact demands an "exorbitant" amount from tribes.

The compact requires tribes to pay up to 8 percent of slot machine revenues, depending on how much revenue the facility generates. It replaced another agreement that required 16 percent of revenues.

Pojoaque Pueblo objected to both deals and is the sole holdout in the state. All other tribes signed the newer compact and agreed to make back payments under the old compact.

Get the Story:
Pojoaque Gov. Issues Slots Warning (The Albuquerque Journal 12/4)