"Persistence is beginning to pay off for tribal leaders who for several years have been seeking to open a casino in Akela Flats, along Interstate 10 between Las Cruces and Deming.

The Office of Indian Gaming Management has determined that no restrictions to gaming exist on the property, according to a press release issued by the Fort Sill Apache tribe on Wednesday. The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) sent what is known as a Section 20 letter to Gov. Susana Martinez on May 15, informing her of their decision.

The letter was also sent to elected officials in Deming, Luna County, Las Cruces, Doña Ana County, the village of Hatch, the Mescalero Apache Tribe and the Pueblo of Ysleta del Sur.

This is the latest step forward for the tribe, which was granted reservation status for the Akela Flats parcel in November 2011. But additional hurdles remain. Gov. Martinez said the tribe agreed it would not attempt to build a casino in Akela Flats when the land was put into trust about 10 years ago. While it may be possible for the tribe to get permission from the BIA to open the casino without Martinez's approval, that would possibly end up in another lawsuit that could delay the project for several more years."

Get the Story:
Our View: Governor should revisit casino in Akela Flats (The Las Cruces Sun-News 6/12)

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New Mexico governor still against Fort Sill Apache Tribe casino (6/11)