The mayor of Duluth, Minnesota, says the city might close the casino owned by the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians.
The tribe won a decision in federal court that said revenue sharing provisions of its agreement with the city are invalid under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. The tribe paid 19 percent of gross revenues from the Fond-du-Luth Casino to the city for 25 years, an amount that came to about $80 million. Now Mayor Don Ness says the entire agreement could be invalid. He claims a provision requires the casino building to revert to the city, so gaming wouldn't be allowed. "If the city is the lease holder of the structure there obviously can't be any gaming because the city can't game," Ness told Northland's News Center. Chairwoman Karen Driver disputed the claim. She said the court decision only addressed revenue sharing. Get the Story: