Chickasaw Nation to expand casino empire

Monday, January 10, 2005  

The Chickasaw Nation is planning to expand its gaming empire, the largest in Oklahoma.

The tribe plans to spend $260 million on casinos and other projects to tap into the state's growing gaming market. Most of the money is being fronted by an unnamed vendor, The Oklahoman reported.

The tribe is one of several that signed a gaming compact to expand operations. The compact legalizes electronic casino machines, with a share of the revenues going to the state.

Exploiting a loophole in federal law, the tribe operates gaming facilities on land taken into trust after 1988. The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act limits gaming on land acquired after that date but the tribe has been able to gain approval by saying the land will be used for non-gaming purposes. Later, the tribe opens a gaming facility.

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Chickasaws plan casino projects (The Oklahoman 1/9)
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