Indian Gaming

The Lower Brule Sioux Tribe of South Dakota hosted a meeting on Tuesday night to discuss its off-reservation casino.

Only about 20 people showed up, The Aberdeen American News reported. But Phil Hogen, a former chairman of the National Indian Gaming Commission, and Tom Ranfranz, a former president for the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe, spoke in favor of the project.

“We think this can be a win-win,” Hogen, who served under former president George W. Bush, said at the meeting, the paper reported.

The meeting came a day after the town board in Oacoma voted unanimously to oppose the casino. Officials said they wanted more information about the $34 million project.

The tribe is pursuing the casino under the two-part determination provisions of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988. That means the state governor's approval will be needed.

The gaming site was taken into trust in 2011. It's only about five miles from the exterior boundary of the reservation.

Get the Story:
Tribal casino meeting draws few people (The Aberdeen American News 8/21)
Oacoma withholds support for casino (The Prairie Business Magazine 8/20)

Related Stories:
Lower Brule Sioux Tribe to discuss off-reservation casino plan (8/19)