Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe to launch casino bid

Wednesday, October 24, 2007  

The Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe of Massachusetts will unveil plans to bid for a commercial casino today.

The tribe plans to team up with the Seneca Nation of New York, The Boston Herald reports. They will seek one of three commercial casinos that Gov. Deval Patrick (D) wants to legalize

But if the tribe isn't successful, it will pursue a casino under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, The Brockton Enterprise reports. That means the tribe would need land in trust somewhere in the state since the tribe doesn't want to develop its reservation on the island of Martha's Vineyard.

The tribe won federal recognition through the Bureau of Indian Affairs process. But a provision in its land claim settlement act applies state law to the reservation.

Get the Story:
Tribes join on casino plan (The Boston Herald 10/24)
Another tribe to seek casino (The Brockton Enterprise 10/23)