“We would like the opportunity to discuss partnering with the State and doing a venture under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. With your support, this is something that could happen in short term, allowing Rhode Island to move quickly ahead of our neighboring states," Thomas wrote in a letter to the governor, The Providence Journal reported.
The tribe has some hurdles to overcome. First, there's a prohibition in the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act that bars the tribe from engaging in gaming on land on its reservation. Then, there's the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Carcieri v. Salazar. The ruling bars the tribe from acquiring land outside of its reservation. But the tribe believes it can address these hurdles by going through the two-part determination section of IGRA. The tribe could acquire land outside of its reservation with Chafee's support, according to a lawyer for the tribe. Get the Story:Tribe eyes possibility of buying Twin River (The Providence Journal 3/1) Related Stories:
Rhode Island governor wants Narragansett Tribe in gaming talks (2/9)
