The Wind Casino and Hotel in Atmore, Alabama, is only about 12 miles from the potential gaming site in Nokomis, Florida. Photo from Facebook
Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) won't negotiate with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians unless the federal government confirms that the tribe's land can be used for gaming. The tribe owns a 1-acre property in Nokomis. The land was reportedly placed in trust in 1984 so it presumably qualifies under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. Neither the Interior Department nor the National Indian Gaming Commission, however, appear to have explicitly confirmed that the land can be used for a casino. So Scott won't come to the table. "It is premature for Florida to engage in any compact negotiations until PBCI (Poarch Band of Creek Indians) obtains an Indian lands determination from United States Department of the Interior," a spokesperson for the governor told WTSP. The NIGC previously determined that a different parcel in Alabama qualifies for gaming because it meets an exception in Section 20 of IGRA that applies to newly recognized tribes. The Poarch Band gained federal recognition in 1984. But the Section 20 issue might not matter in Florida if the land indeed was placed in trust prior to the passage of IGRA in 1988. The Alabama parcel was acquired in 1995 so the NIGC had to look into the legal status of the property. The site in Nokomis is about 12 miles from the Wind Casino and Hotel in Atmore, Alabama. Get the Story:
Florida Indians threaten to grow pot if denied casino (WTSP 2/24)
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Poarch Creeks start building on potential gaming site in Florida (2/23)
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