Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange (R) doesn't think the Poarch Creek Band of Indians should be able to offer certain electronic gaming games on the reservation.

Strange acknowledged he lacks jurisdiction in Indian Country. But he claims the machines that the tribe is operating are illegal in the state.

"[M]y position has been from the beginning that if it is illegal in the state of Alabama, then it should be illegal on the reservation," Strange said at a press conference yesterday, WWNT reported.

Strange also said he is looking into issues affecting the status of the tribe's gaming sites. Local officials claim the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Carcieri v. Salazar means the casinos aren't on trust land.

The decision restricts the land-into-trust process to tribes that were "under federal jurisdiction" as of 1934. The Poarch Creeks didn't gain recognition until 1984 so some officials say prior land-into-trust acquisitions are invalid.

Get the Story:
Attorney General speaks out on gambling (WWNT 8/9)
Attorney general: Raid should put casinos in state on notice (The Montgomery Advertiser 8/9)

Related Stories:
Poarch Creeks discuss land-into-trust issues with local officials (8/1)