Two more Class III gaming compacts in New Mexico go into effect

Tuesday, April 5, 2016

The Sandia Resort and Casino at Sandia Pueblo in New Mexico. Photo from Facebook

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The Bureau of Indian Affairs has allowed two more Class III gaming compacts in New Mexico to take effect.

The latest approvals are for Sandia Pueblo and San Felipe Pueblo. Notices of the two compacts were published in the Federal Register on Monday.

That means the Land of Enchantment is home to 15 tribes with "deemed approved" compacts, the most of any state. The agreements are considered to be legal to the extent their provisions are consistent with the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.

In addition to those two tribes, the Navajo Nation, the Jicarilla Apache Nation, the Mescalero Apache Nation, Acoma Pueblo, Jemez Pueblo, Isleta Pueblo, Taos Pueblo, Ohkay Owingeh, Laguna Pueblo, Tesuque Pueblo, Santa Clara Pueblo, Zuni Pueblo and Nambe Pueblo have deemed approved compacts.

Only one tribe -- Santa Ana Pueblo -- is operating under a prior agreement. Another -- Pojoaque Pueblo -- remains in limbo after its compact expired at the end of June 2015. The tribe has refused to agree to revenue-sharing provisions in the new deal.

Federal Register Notices:
Indian Gaming; Tribal-State Class III Gaming Compact Taking Effect in the State of New Mexico (April 4, 2016)
Indian Gaming; Notice of Tribal-State Class III Gaming Compact Taking Effect in the State of New Mexico (April 4, 2016)
Indian Gaming; Tribal-State Class III Gaming Compacts Taking Effect in the State of New Mexico (December 29, 2015)
Indian Gaming [Pueblo of Laguna] (October 23, 2015)
Indian Gaming [Pueblo of Tesuque] (October 23, 2015)
Indian Gaming [Pueblo of Santa Clara] (October 23, 2015)
Indian Gaming [Pueblo of Zuni] (August 14, 2015)
Indian Gaming [Ohkay Owingeh] (August 13, 2015)
Indian Gaming [Pueblo of Taos] (July 30, 2015)
Indian Gaming [Pueblo of Isleta] (July 28, 2015)
Indian Gaming [Jicarilla Apache Nation, Mescalero Apache Tribe of the Mescalero Reservation, Navajo Nation, Pueblo of Acoma, and Pueblo of Jemez] (June 22, 2015)

Relevant Documents:
BIA Deemed Approved Letter (June 9, 2015)