Vote planned on bill targeting Tohono O'odham casino

Tuesday, March 16, 2010  

The Arizona House is expected to vote tomorrow on HB2297, a bill that seeks to prevent the Tohono O'odham Nation from developing an off-reservation casino.

The bill allows municipalities to annex fee land owned by tribes "if the landowner has requested that the federal government take ownership of the territory or hold the territory in trust." The land can be annexed without tribal consent.

The Tohono O'odham Nation is seeking to build the $550 million West Valley Resort on 100 acres it owns in Glendale. The bill would allow the city to annex all of the tribe's property.

The tribe acquired the site in 2003. Normally, it wouldn't be eligible for a casino but the tribe says it qualifies for an exception in the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act that applies to land acquired in connection with a land claim settlement.

Congress passed a land claim settlement act that says the tribe can acquire "unincorporated" land. If the city of Glendale annexes all of the land, it would no longer meet that definition.

A judge ruled last week that Glendale already started the annexation process for about a third of the property.

Get the Story:
House delays vote affecting Glendale casino (AP 3/16)
Ruling cuts odds for Casino in Glendale (Capitol Media Services 3/13)

Earlier Stories:
Tohono O'odham Nation loses ruling in gaming site case (3/12)
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)