Kansas officials oppose Wyandotte Nation off-reservation casino

Tuesday, September 28, 2010  

Officials in Kansas are urging the Obama administration to reject an off-reservation casino for the Wyandotte Nation of Oklahoma.

Gov. Mark Parkinson (D) says approval of the casino in Sedgwick County will go against the wishes of local residents and will hurt a state-owned casino in a nearby county. Meanwhile, Attorney General Steve Six says the tribe's acquisition of the gaming site does not comply with a land claim settlement act.

The tribe already operates a casino in Kansas. The land for the Class II facility in downtown Kansas City was purchased with funds that were provided by the land claim settlement act.

The tribe says the land for the casino in Sedgwick County was purchased with the same funds. That means the Bureau of Indian Affairs must acquire the site in trust and that it will be eligible for gaming.

The state tried to block the Kansas City casino but lost in the courts. Parkinson has finally decided he will negotiate a Class III compact with the tribe.

Get the Story:
Attorney general seeks to stop Park City Indian casino (The Wichita Eagle 9/28)
Parkinson against Park City casino (The Wichita Eagle 9/28)

Relevant Documents:
Secretary Salazar Memo on Gaming Land Applications | Press Release: Interior Details Path Forward on Indian Gaming Policy

Earlier Stories:
Wyandotte Nation adds to land for off-reservation casino in Kansas (9/8)
Wyandotte Nation confident for second out-of-state casino bid (7/2)
Salazar tells BIA to continue work on gaming land applications (6/28)
Kansas governor denies delay for casino by Wyandotte site (4/9)
Reports say casino can compete with Wyandotte Nation (3/31)
Editorial: Wyandotte casino bid bad for the community (3/4)
Wyandotte Nation awaits action on Kansas casino (2/22)