BIA's Skibine consulted on gaming compacts, land

Friday, June 10, 2005  

The Bureau of Indian Affairs official in charge of gaming is said to have made statements about revenue-sharing and off-reservation land used for gaming.

George Skibine, the acting deputy assistant secretary for economic development and policy, met with Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett on Thursday. Barrett asked for the meeting to discuss the Forest County Potawatomi Tribe's casino plans.

According to Barrett, Skibine said there is no upper limit on the percentage of gaming revenues a tribe can share with local communities. In Congressional testimony last year, Skibine suggested a 10 percent cap in gaming compacts with states.

Skibine also said the tribe can move its Milwaukee-area casino to downtown Milwaukee under a certain condition, according to Barrett. Congress would have to take the Milwaukee-area land out of trust before the BIA would allow the downtown casino, Barrett said he was told.

Get the Story:
Mayor sees money in casino move (The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel 6/10)