County approves Wyandotte Nation casino deal

Friday, September 21, 2007  

Commissioners in Wyandotte County, Kansas, approved a revenue-sharing deal with the Wyandotte Nation of Oklahoma and agreed to back the tribe's efforts for Class III gaming.

The agreement calls for the tribe to share up to $30 million with local governments. The tribe will also pay for water service, police and fire protection and other municipal services.

The tribe has trust land in downtown Kansas City. But the state and the federal government say it can't be used for gaming. The case is pending before the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals.

A federal judge has ruled that the National Indian Gaming Commission must reconsider its Indian lands determination for the site. The state says the tribe shouldn't move forward with gaming until all of the legal issues are resolved.

The tribe hopes to open a Class II facility by the end of the year and pursue a Class III compact later.

Get the Story:
Unified Government endorses plans for Indian casino (The Kansas City Star 9/21)
Kansas casino legality issue won’t head to state Supreme Court right away (The Kansas City Star 9/21)