New York governor close to off-reservation casino

Tuesday, February 6, 2007  

New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer (D) is close to a decision on an off-reservation casino for the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe.

Spitzer is due to make a decision within days. "There are negotiations going on and, if I were to characterize them, I would say we are optimistic," a spokesperson said.

The tribe received approval from the Bureau of Indian Affairs to acquire land in the Catskills, nearly 400 miles from the reservation. Under the two-part determination process in Section 20 of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, the governor has final say on the project.

The state and the tribe are still negotiating the terms of a Class III compact for the casino.

Get the Story:
N.Y. governor likely to approve $600M casino (The Middletown Times Herald-Record 2/6)