Two Wisconsin tribes look to revive off-reservation casino bid

Thursday, June 16, 2011  

Two Wisconsin tribes could revive their off-reservation casino now that the Obama administration has removed an obstacle in the process.

The St. Croix Chippewa Tribe and the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians have been pushing to open a casino in Beloit. The site is more than 300 miles from their respective reservations.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs killed the project in the final days of the Bush administration in January 2009. But Assistant Secretary Larry Echo Hawk has rescinded the 2008 memo that led to the denial so the tribes plan to meet again to discuss their options.

"We feel it will make the process easier again," St. Croix tribal attorney Aaron Loomis told The Beloit Daily News “It could’ve come sooner, but it’s good news for the smaller tribes.”

Get the Story:
New hope for Beloit casino? (The Beloit Daily News 6/15)

Bush Administration Off-Reservation Gaming Policy:
Guidance on taking off-reservation land into trust for gaming purposes (January 3, 2008)

Related Stories:
Tribes hopeful with reversal on off-reservation gaming policy (6/15)
Echo Hawk pulls controversial off-reservation gaming memo (6/14)

From the Indianz.Com Archive:
Off-reservation casino killed in final days of Bush era (1/14)