Tohono O'odham Nation loses ruling in gaming site case

Friday, March 12, 2010  

The city of Glendale, Arizona, annexed some of the land that the Tohono O'odham Nation wants to use for an off-reservation casino, a judge ruled on Thursday.

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.

Glendale says the law requires the land that the tribe acquires to be "unincorporated." The city argues that the tribe's land-into-trust application can't be approved because a portion of the gaming site has been annexed.

The tribe said it might appeal the judge's decision.

Get the Story:
Glendale wins round 1 in casino battle (The Phoenix Business Journal 3/11)

Earlier Stories:
NCAI joins Tohono O'odham off-reservation casino fight (3/9)
Tohono O'odham off-reservation casino bid still at BIA (3/8)
Bill affects Tohono O'odham off-reservation casino bid (2/26)
Bill targets Tohono O'odham off-reservation casino bid (2/3)
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)