Bill targets Tohono O'odham off-reservation casino bid

Wednesday, February 3, 2010  

A bill in the Arizona Legislature aims to stop the Tohono O'odham Nation from moving forward with an off-reservation casino.

The tribe plans to build the $550 million West Valley Resort on a 100-acre site that was acquired in connection with a land claim settlement. Congress approved the settlement through the Gila Bend Indian Reservation Lands Replacement Act.

Opponents say the law requires the land to be in an "unincorporated" area of Arizona. So State Rep. Jerry Weiers (R) introduced a bill that allows the city of Glendale to annex the tribe's gaming site, a move that would apparently prevent the land from being considered "unincorporated."

Generally, tribes cannot open casinos on land that was acquired after 1988. The Tohono O'odham Nation acquired the site in question in 2003.

But the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act contains an exception for land acquired through a land claim settlement. Since 1988, only two tribes -- the Seneca Nation and the Wyandotte Nation -- have been able open casinos by exploiting the land claim exception.

Get the Story:
Lawmakers out to block casino plans in Glendale (Capitol Media Services 2/3)
Ariz. House panel targets proposed Glendale casino (AP 2/2)

Earlier Stories:
Tohono O'odham Nation 'more committed' to casino (1/28)
Sen. Kyl voices opposition to Tohono O'odham casino (1/27)
McCain joins opposition to off-reservation casino bid (1/21)
Tohono O'odham Nation won't drop off-reservation bid (1/20)