No off-reservation casinos in southern New Mexico

Tuesday, January 8, 2008  

There won't be any off-reservation casinos in southern New Mexico any time soon thanks to the Bush administration.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs on Friday rejected Jemez Pueblo's proposal for a casino in Anthony. The BIA said the gaming site was too far from the reservation -- about 300 miles -- to benefit tribal members [PDF: Letter].

Separately, the BIA told the Tigua Tribe of Texas that it wouldn't take any action on the tribe's proposed casino bid in Chaparral. The BIA said the tribe needed to submit more information [PDF: Letters].

Anthony and Chaparral are located near each other in Dona Ana County. The Mescalero Apache Nation operates an on-reservation casino about 135 miles away in Otero County, but the BIA did not address this issue in its decision.

Get the Story:
Casino bid goes bust (The Las Cruces Sun-News 1/8)
Off-Reservation Casino Plans Derailed (The Albuquerque Journal 1/8)
Jemez Pueblo governor reacts to Interior's casino ruling (AP 1/8)
Interior Department Won't Consider Ysleta del Sur Application (KDBC 4 News 1/7)