Poarch Creeks dispute state jurisdiction over gaming facilities

Wednesday, October 27, 2010  

Alabama Gov. Bob Riley (R) can't go after tribal gaming facilities, the Poarch Band of Creek Indians says.

The tribe operates Class II machines at casinos on its reservation. Riley claims he has the authority to shut them down because he has closed non-Indian facilities that had similar games.

“We have many, many years, decades, of legal precedence that clearly establishes that our operations are governed by the federal agency and not the state," Poarch Creek Indian Gaming President Jay Dorris told The Atmore Advance.

The National Indian Gaming Commission has categorized the tribe's machines as Class II. Under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, tribes have sole jurisdiction over Class II games on Indian lands.

Get the Story:
Riley targeting Indian casinos (The Atmore Advance 10/27)

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Alabama governor aims to close Poarch Creek Class II facilities (10/25)