Ponca Tribe continues to see strong business at long-awaited casino

Friday, January 11, 2019

Litigation isn't stopping the Ponca Tribe from welcoming customers to its long-awaited gaming facility in Iowa.

The Prairie Flower Casino in Carter Lake opened its doors to the public on October 31, 2018. Chairman Larry Wright Jr. told KETV that the facility has been attracting repeat visitors.

"There's always cars out here and it's really proven that more entertainment was needed for the Carter Lake area and more options," Wright told the station.

Wright added that he remains confident that the casino will survive the legal challenge. The states of Iowa and Nebraska, along with the nearby city of Council Bluffs in Iowa, contend the tribe cannot use its trust land for gaming in a lawsuit pending in federal court.

"It's still ongoing, but we're confident with everything that we've done from building the facility to operating the facility, that we're in compliance with all the regulations and requirements that are out there for us," Wright told KETV.

The lawsuit failed to gain traction prior to the opening of the facility. Last year, a magistrate assigned to the case rejected an attempt by the state of Nebraska to expedite some motions, saying there was no reason to do so.

Local support for the lawsuit is also eroding. On December 31, a business in Carter Lake withdrew from a brief that it had joined, citing improvements being taken by the city following the opening of the casino.

While located in Iowa, Carter Lake is unique in that it is surrounded on all sides by the state of Nebraska. Omaha -- the most populous city in Nebraska -- is only a few miles away.

The tribe has long operated a smoke shop in Carter Lake. Prairie Flower is located on the same parcel of trust land.