Third time might be a charm for Massachusetts tribe

Thursday, March 2, 2006  

The Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe of Massachusetts might get a third chance to gain approval for a Class III casino.

Two earlier efforts, one in 1994 and the other in 2001, failed despite intense lobbying by the tribe. State lawmakers refused to back the projects.

This time around, lawmakers seem inclined to support a proposal to legalize slot machines at racetracks. If that happens, the tribe is going to assert its rights, said chairman Donald Widdiss.

The tribe gained recognition through the Bureau of Indian Affairs process but falls under a special act of Congress that limits its rights by subjecting tribal lands to state jurisdiction. If gaming is approved, the tribe will not seek to develop its reservation on the island of Martha's Vineyard.

Get the Story:
Racetrack slot proposal revives Wampanoag gambling hopes (The Martha's Vineyard Times 3/2)