Quapaw Tribe faces opposition over possible casino in Arkansas

Thursday, April 16, 2015

The Downstream Casino Resort in Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri. Photo from Facebook

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The Quapaw Tribe of Oklahoma is facing opposition to its land-into-trust application in Arkansas over concerns of a potential casino.

The tribe did not include gaming in the application that was submitted to the Bureau of Indian Affairs. But the Little Rock Port Authority is worried that a casino could affect operations at the industrial and transportation center.

"“If they would sign a note tomorrow that says we assure that this land will remain in compatible use to the port authority everybody in this community will support in every way possible their right," board chairman Christopher Mathews told KUAR.

The tribe plans to use the 160-acre site for cultural preservation. The land was once a part of its former reservation in Arkansas.

But even if the tribe said it wasn't going to use the land for a casino, that wouldn't preclude the site from qualifying for gaming under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. The land-into-trust process is separate from any determinations that might be issued by the National Indian Gaming Commission.

The property is located near the Port of Little Rock, the Clinton Presidential Center and the Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport.

Get the Story:
Little Rock Port Authority To Enter Into Quapaw Land Debate (KUAR 4/15) $P Relevant Documents:
NIGC Indian Land Opinion For Site in Kansas (November 2014) Related Stories:
Quapaw Tribe did not include casino on land-into-trust request (03/26)
Quapaw Tribe insists a casino isn't focus of Arkansas land plan (3/25)
Quapaw Tribe faces opposition to potential casino in Arkansas (3/24)
Quapaw Tribe open to casino on historic homeland in Arkansas (3/23)
Quapaw Tribe promises fight to protect casino rights in Kansas (03/19)
Community in Arkansas reacts to possible Quapaw Tribe casino (02/25)
Quapaw Tribe won't rule out casino on historic land in Arkansas (2/21)