New Mexico lawmakers give final approval to gaming compact

Friday, March 20, 2015

The Northern Edge Navajo Casino in New Mexico. Photo from Facebook

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The New Mexico House voted 61 to 5 on Thursday to ratify a Class III gaming compact with five tribes.

The Senate already passed the deal so the compact can now be sent to the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Washington, D.C., for review. The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act gives the BIA 45 days to take action so a decision should come before existing agreements with four of the five tribes expire.

The Navajo Nation, the Jicarilla Apache Nation, the Mescalero Apache Nation, Acoma Pueblo and Jemez Pueblo signed the agreement. It includes provisions affecting revenue sharing, free play, operating hours and newly acquired lands.

“I want to say thank you to members of both the House and Senate for approval of this compact,” Navajo President Shelly said in a press release. “Gaming is independence and revenue for the tribe."

Get the Story:
Legislature OKs new, 22-year gambling compact (The Albuquerque Journal 3/20)
Tribal gambling compact clears Legislature (The Santa Fe New Mexican 3/20)
New Mexico Legislature Passes Tribal Casino Compact (Casino News Daily 3/20) Related Stories:
Opinion: Fort Sill Apache Tribe deserves fair shake on compact (3/18)
New Mexico tribes clear one vote on Class III gaming compact (03/12)