Narragansett Tribe collects share of slot revenues

Friday, June 27, 2008  

The Narragansett Tribe of Rhode Island has collected $1.54 million in slot machine revenues from a non-Indian gaming facility.

The state passed a law that set aside 5 percent of slot revenues at the facility for the tribe. Tribal leaders, however, refused to take the money because they were worried it might affect their gaming plans.

The law was then changed to set aside 0.17 percent of revenues for the tribe. Chief Sachem Matthew Thomas said the tribe finally decided to take the money due to financial constraints.

"The bottom line is finances. It's tough out there," Thomas told The Providence Journal. "We do need these funds, but it doesn't mean we'll give up our rights to gaming."

The tribe is barred from using its reservation to conduct gaming under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.

Get the Story:
Tribe takes slots share (The Providence Journal 6/27)
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