Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe continues to fight for gaming rights

Wednesday, July 17, 2019  

The Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe plans to appeal a judge's decision that places construction of a long-awaited casino under local jurisdiction in Massachusetts.

As a Class II facility, the Aquinnah Cliffs Casino would normally not be subject to local or state authority. But a federal judge has determined otherwise in a ruling that the tribe is seeking to have placed on hold during the appeal.

“The tribe is being deprived of . . . critical revenue stream, estimated to range from $3 to $5 million per year from the initial phases of the operation,” a court filing stated, The Vineyard Gazette reported.

The tribe will be taking the case to the 1st Circuit Court of Appeals. A prior ruling from the same court confirmed that the tribe could engage in gaming on its reservation.

But when the matter returned to Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV, he ruled that the tribe must obtain permits from the town of Aquinnah before resuming construction on the casino. He contends the tribe failed to appeal a portion of the case that dealt with local jurisdiction during the earlier trip to the 1st Circuit.

Meanwhile, the tribe has been hit with a cease and desist order from the town over ongoing activities at the casino site, The Vineyard Gazette reported. Chairwoman Cheryl Andrews-Maltais told the paper that the tribe was merely trying to secure the site for safety.

The tribe is working with Global Gaming Solutions, a subsidiary of the Chickasaw Nation, on the casino. The Chickasaws were a pioneer in Class II gaming in Oklahoma.

The tribe had hoped to open the facility this summer until running to delays at the local level.

The tribe's reservation is located on the island of Martha's Vineyard.

Building Inspector Orders Tribe to Halt Construction on Bingo Hall Site (The Vineyard Gazette July 17, 2019)
Tribe seeks stay of ‘final judgment’ in casino case (The Martha's Vineyard Times July 12, 2019)
Tribe Seeks Stay in U.S. District Court to Begin Building Bingo Hall (The Vineyard Gazette July 11, 2019)

Massachusetts v. Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) (April 11, 2017)

Department of the Interior Letter to the National Indian Gaming Commission (August 23, 2013)
National Indian Gaming Commission Letter to Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe (October 25, 2013)
National Indian Gaming Commission Approval of Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe Class II Gaming Ordinance (August 14, 2018)

Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe told to seek local permits to build casino (June 20, 2019) 'You were right and I was wrong': Judge concedes to Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe (May 31, 2019)
Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe back in court to defend gaming rights (May 6, 2019)
Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe starts construction on long-awaited gaming facility (February 25, 2019)
Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe asserts role in gaming talks in Massachusetts (January 28, 2019)
Democrats opposed bill to protect homelands of Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe (January 11, 2019)
Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe welcomes introduction of homelands legislation (January 9, 2019)
Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe aims to open casino in the summer (December 12, 2018)
Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe continues work on gaming project (October 17, 2018)
Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe solidifying plans for long-awaited casino (September 10, 2018)
Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe lands big partner for gaming project (August 22, 2018)
Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe still working on casino after court victory (July 20, 2018)
Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe moves forward with Class II gaming facility (January 11, 2018)
Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe hails win in long-running sovereignty case (January 10, 2018)
Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe scores big win in long-running sovereignty case (January 8, 2017)
Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe in limbo as Supreme Court delays sovereignty dispute (December 11, 2017)
Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe awaits action from Supreme Court in sovereignty case (November 28, 2017)
Casino opponents ask Supreme Court to hear Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe case (August 9, 2017)
Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe must wait to restart work on casino (May 23, 2017)
Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe hails another win in gaming dispute (May 12, 2017)
Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe sees more opposition to gaming win (April 25, 2017)
Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe must keep fighting despite gaming win (April 21, 2017)
Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe welcomes decision in gaming dispute (April 17, 2017)
Aquinnah Wampanaog Tribe scores major win in sovereignty case (April 11, 2017)
Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe defends right to use land for gaming (December 7, 2016)
Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe elects new chair amid gaming fight(November 22, 2016)
Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe gets court date in gaming lawsuit(October 26, 2016)
Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe sees support for Class II gaming plan(June 6, 2016)
Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe submits first brief in gaming appeal (6/1)
Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe asks 1st Circuit to hear gaming case (02/03)
Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe to finish center as casino bid falters (1/29)
Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe permanently barred from casino work (01/06)
Tribes with special acts of Congress face hurdles for gaming (11/24)
Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe to appeal decision in casino case (11/23)
Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe sees major blow in casino case (11/16)
Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe deadlocks on gaming referendum (08/17)
Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe argues for gaming rights in court (8/13)
Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe to vote on Class II casino project (8/12)
Obama on holiday amid Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe casino flap (8/11)
Editorial: Something's gotta give in New England casino race (08/03)
Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe sees big future with Class II casino (07/31)
Judge orders Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe to stop work on casino (7/29)
Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe wins approval for liquor ordinance (7/27)
Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe owes HUD for casino building (7/24)
Members of Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe debate casino bid (7/21)
Massachusetts tribes still trying to get into the casino game (7/20)
Judge sets hearing in Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe casino case (7/15)
Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe faces court action over casino bid (7/14)
Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe might stop work on Class II project (7/13)
Editorial: Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe's wrong approach on casino (7/9)
Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe ignores order to stop working on casino (7/7)
Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe told to stop working on gaming facility (7/6)
Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe starts work on Class II gaming facility (7/3)
Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe pushes for decision in casino litigation (06/08)
Editorial: Group fights Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe casino plan (03/12)
Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe hails decision in gaming dispute (3/4)
Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe and state in court over casino plan (3/3)
Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe acquires land adjacent to casino site (01/07)
Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe heads back to court in casino dispute (01/06)
Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe responds to opponents in casino suit (08/28)
Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe seeking investors for Class II facility (08/25)
Judge allows parties in Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe casino case (08/07)