Narragansett Tribe takes non-Indian casino dispute to top court

Thursday, December 4, 2014

The Twin River Casino, a non-Indian facility, in Rhode Island. Photo from Facebook

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The Rhode Island Supreme Court heard arguments today in a gaming lawsuit brought by the Narragansett Tribe.

In 2012, state voters authorized an expansion of gaming at a non-Indian facility. The tribe believes the Question 1 is unconstitutionally vague because it refers to "state-operated" gaming -- Twin River Casino is operated by an outside company.

The tribe has been pursuing gaming for decades but has been dealt repeated setbacks. At one point, a federal court said the tribe could use its reservation for a casino but the state's Congressional delegation drafted a provision that bars the tribe from following the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.

The tribe then sought approval from state voters to open a casino. Those efforts have repeatedly failed even as non-Indian facilities, such as Twin River, have won approval to offer more forms of gaming.

The case is Narragansett Tribe v. Rhode Island, No. 2012-322-A.

Get the Story:
Tribe takes casino concerns to RI Supreme Court (WPRI 12/4)

Earlier Rhode Island Supreme Court Decision:
Narragansett Tribe v. Rhode Island (January 10, 2014) Related Stories:
Narragansett Tribe continues suit over non-Indian gaming (01/13)