Iowa to sue NIGC over Ponca Tribe's casino

Monday, June 9, 2008  

The state of Iowa will be filing a lawsuit against the National Indian Gaming Commission in hopes of stopping the Ponca Tribe from building a casino.

Attorney general Tom Miller said the tribe promised not to use the 5-acre site in Carter Lake for a casino. But the NIGC, in a December 31, 2007, ruling said the land qualified for gaming under theIndian Gaming Regulatory Act.

"We believe that the National Indian Gaming Commission mistakenly found that the tribal trust lands in Carter Lake were in fact eligible under federal law to be used for gambling. The National Indian Gaming Commission reached this conclusion despite the Ponca Tribe’s representations to the contrary. We have therefore decided to challenge that approval in federal court litigation," Miller said in a statement.

The tribe is based in Nebraska but Congress designated parts of Iowa -- including Carter Lake -- as the tribe's service area.

Get the Story:
Iowa AG challenges Poncas' casino plans in Carter Lake (AP 6/8)