The United Keetoowah Band of Oklahoma will have to wait up to four years before receiving a decision on its land-into-trust application for a casino in Arkansas.

The tribe filed its application with the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Jeanette Hanna, the director of the Eastern Oklahoma regional office, said it would take some time to visit Arkansas and solicit local input about the proposal. A final decision will be made by the central office in Washington, D.C.

The 10-acre casino site is located in Fort Smith, a few miles from the Oklahoma border. Lawmakers from Arkansas say they oppose the tribe's plan for a 250-room hotel and casino.

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Arkansas lawmakers oppose Fort Smith Indian casino (Stephens Washington Bureau 3/30)
Eyeing casino, tribe petitions for 10-acre site (The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette 3/30)