Chief Phyllis Anderson of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians. Photo: Chief Phyliss J Anderson

Openings & Closings

Mississippi Choctaw citizens request vote on $25M casino project

Tuesday, May 23, 2017

The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians could be forced to rethink plans for a $25 million casino.

A group called Choctaw for Better Government collected more than 1,700 signatures to put the Red Water Casino to a vote of tribal citizens. Organizer Nikki Comby told WTOK that the tribe will incur another $25 million in debt for the project.

"We were told there was going to be no new money borrowed," Cromby told the station.

Chief Phyliss Anderson does not entirely disagree on that point. In the April 2017 issue of Choctaw Community News, she said the tribe will draw on existing funds -- plus an "open line of credit" -- to build the casino.

RW casino update from Petition Sponsor Nikki Comby
Posted by Chahta for Better Government on Tuesday, May 16, 2017

Chahta for Better Government on Facebook: Casino Petition Update

"The casino will cost approximately $25 Million but we will have that paid off in 2 years!" Anderson wrote. In a post on Facebook on Monday, she said the tribe will be verifying the signatures on the petition.

The 35,800 square-foot Red Water Casino will be located in Leake County in Mississippi. The site is about 30 miles from Pearl River Resort, the tribe's flagship gaming resort.

The tribe also operates the the Bok Homa Casino in a satellite community about 100 miles away. Red Water will be similar in size to that facility, according to Anderson.

Read More on the Story:
Possible vote to end Red Water Casino (WTOK 5/22)