The Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe of Massachusetts is hoping to benefit from a gaming case involving the Poarch Band of Creek Indians in Alabama.
A federal judge ruled that Alabama lacked jurisdiction over Class II games operated by the Poarch Creeks. The Wampanoags hope to operate a Class II facility over objections from Massachusetts. "The district court dismissed the state's complaint, concluding that Congress intended IGRA (Indian Gaming Regulatory Act) to preempt all state-law claims that 'interfere with tribal governance of gaming,'" attorneys for the Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe wrote in a court filing, The Cape Cod Times reported. Both cases started off in a similar manner -- the state sued the tribes in state court. The Poarch Creeks had their case moved to federal court and the Wampanoags are hoping to do the same. Get the Story: