The Quapaw Tribe of Oklahoma is seeking to expand its casino into Kansas by utilizing an exception in the Indian
Gaming Regulatory Act.
Generally, IGRA bars gaming on land acquired after 1988. But the law contains an exception for land within a tribe's "last recognized reservation."
For the Quapaws, their last recognized reservation was in Kansas. A land determination from the National Indian Gaming Commission is pending, The Joplin Globe reports.
The tribe operates the Downstream Casino Resort in Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri. The gaming portion is located on trust land in Oklahoma.
The tribe also has trust land in the Kansas portion but needs a Class III gaming compact to engage in gaming there. Gov. Sam Brownback (R) has said he won't meet until the NIGC issues the land determination, the Globe reported.
Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt has told the NIGC that the tribe can't use the land in Kansas for gaming.
Get the Story:
Quapaw Tribe seeks to expand Downstream Casino into Kansas
(The Joplin Globe 9/28)
Related Stories:
Quapaw Tribe considers Class III gaming
compact in Kansas (9/25)