Fort Sill Apache Tribe won't stop Class II games

Wednesday, July 22, 2009  

The Fort Sill Apache Tribe of Oklahoma won't stop gaming at its facility in New Mexico, Chairman Jeff Houser said.

The tribe has been offering paper bingo games at the Apache Homelands Entertainment Center. The facility is located on trust land near Deming, New Mexico.

But the National Indian Gaming Commission said the games must stop because the site does not qualify under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. Gov. Bill Richardson (D), who opposes the casino, applauded a notice of violation issued to the tribe yesterday.

"I join the NIGC chairman in calling on the Fort Sill Apaches to immediately cease its gaming operations and comply with federal law," Richardson said in a press release.

Houser said he expects Richardson to send state troopers to the gaming site. Richardson tried to block people from entering the casino in February 2008.

Get the Story:
Fort Sill Apache ordered to cease bingo games at Akela casino (The Las Cruces Sun-News 7/22)
Bingo Parlor Violates Gaming Act (The Albuquerque Journal 7/22)

Relevant Documents:
Notice of Violation: Fort Sill Apache Tribe (July 21, 2009)