Tribes oppose Tohono O'odham off-reservation casino

Monday, March 16, 2009

Five Arizona tribes are publicly opposing the off-reservation casino proposed by the Tohono O'odham Nation.

The White Mountain Apache Tribe, the Tonto Apache Tribe, the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation and the Yavapai-Apache Nation say off-reservation gaming breaks "promises" to state voters who approved the tribal-state compact in 2002. In an opinion piece, they say the Tohono O'odham casino would "result in economic injury to both the people of Arizona and Arizona tribes."

The Gila River Indian Community previously stated its opposition to the proposal. One of the tribe's casinos is close to the Tohono O'odham site.

The tribe says the casino will be an economic boon. "Results from comprehensive economic-impact and feasibility studies confirm that the new facility will cost at least $500 million and create more than 6,000 construction jobs," Chairman Ned Norris Jr. said in an interview. "Once completed, facility operations will create over 3,000 new jobs in the community and the annual impacts will exceed $300 million."

The tribe plans to build the casino on 134 acres in Glendale. The land was purchased with funds authorized by an act of Congress so the tribe says it qualifies for a land claim exception in the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.

Get the Story:
$600 million resort, casino in West Valley meeting opposition (3TV 3/13)
Indian tribes oppose plan for new casino (The The Arizona Republic 3/14)
ore tribes opposing casino plan in W. Valley (The Arizona Republic 3/15)
Tohono O'odham defend W. Valley casino plans The Arizona Republic 3/16)