Mohegan Tribe welcomes land-into-trust ruling for Cowlitz casino

Tuesday, January 11, 2011  

The Mohegan Tribe of Connecticut is finally seeing some movement on its out-of-state investments.

The tribe plans to develop and manage a casino for the Cowlitz Tribe of Washington. The Bureau of Indian Affairs finally approved the land-into-trust application last month.

"Now, we have to wait for an appeal period to pass," Mohegan Chairman Bruce "Two Dogs" Bozsum told The New London Day."Then, the Cowlitz will have to secure financing."

Bozsum also said the tribe has to negotiate a Class III gaming compact with Washington. BIA approval is needed for the compact as well.

Another out-of-state project, however, remains "on the back burner," Bozsum told the paper. The Menominee Nation of Wisconsin is trying to build an off-reservation casino but was dealt a setback during the Bush administration.

Get the Story:
Mohegans still committed to out-of-state projects (The New London Day 1/11)

Related Stories:
BIA decision on Cowlitz casino resolves land-into-trust questions (1/7)
BIA approves land-into-trust application for Cowlitz Tribe casino (12/23)