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Editorial: Saginaw Chippewa casino put safety first (12/21)

"The Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribal Council made the right call when it shut down the Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort last week, then shared as much information as possible with the public and the press....

Opinion: More disclosure for tribal casino machines (12/21)

"Something needs to be done relative to the Indian casinos as it relates to their slot machine operations. Everyone knows these are games of chance, but they shouldn’t be games of no chance. The state...

Column: Tribes and tracks can partner on casinos (12/18)

"Despite the economic downturn in the U.S. casino business, the horse racing industry continues reaching out to it as a life preserver. The common synergies are undeniable. If the citizenry doesn't want a casino anywhere...

Column: Where did all the tribal gaming profits go? (12/16)

"Isn't it interesting that the people who have made the most money off of Indian gaming in Connecticut aren't even American Indians. The big money off the top at Foxwoods, 9.9 percent of adjusted gross...

New CNIGA leader carries message of tribal unity (12/16)

Daniel J. Tucker, the new chairman of the California Nations Indian Gaming Association, says tribes need to stay united as they face common challenges. Tucker, the chairman of the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation,...

Editorial: No special session for Seminole compact (12/15)

"Lawmakers are right that it's not the time to call a special legislative session to address gambling issues. But dealing with gambling, as Tallahassee must this coming spring, is long overdue. It's not like gambling...

Editorial: Casinos a growing industry in Oklahoma (12/14)

"The economic slowdown that's affected Indian gaming from Connecticut to California and resulted in casino foreclosure threats elsewhere apparently has not struck Oklahoma, where growth continues in the industry. Oklahoma ranks second, just behind California,...

Opinion: Debating off-reservation gaming projects (12/14)

The San Diego Union Tribune publishes opposing views on off-reservation gaming. Attorney Joe Findaro says landless and poor tribes should be given a chance to succeed in Indian gaming. He cites two cases in California...

Editorial: Control of gambling at stake in Alabama (12/10)

"Who controls gambling in Alabama? Gov. Bob Riley? He'd like to run every slot machine masquerading as electronic bingo out of the state. But gambling interests don't seem to much care what he thinks. The...

Editorial: Chickasaw Nation impacts Texas gaming (12/10)

"With political campaigning officially ready to begin this week across Texas, more voices are asking if Indian-owned gaming is about to gain a major legal toehold in the state. The state, over the past decade,...

Column: Tribal casinos can identify gambling addicts (12/07)

"A news story last month about the latest person around here accused of embezzling to feed a casino habit prompted a lot of reader response, most of it harsh and unsparingly critical of the woman...

Editorial: Foxwoods backers playing games in Philly (12/07)

"Pennsylvania officials continue to stumble along the road to full-blown casino gambling, while still saddling Philadelphia with a planned slots parlor that's wrong for its site along the Delaware River. Now the backers of the...

Letter: Manzanita Band goes reservation shopping (12/04)

"The Manzanita Band of Mission Indians is currently engaged in “reservation shopping” to develop a casino 50 miles from its historic reservation in rural San Diego County. Their preferred new urban location is in the...

Opinion: Casinos not the biggest threat to the poor (12/04)

"Poor folks gambling, Suffer hurt; Bit by bit, They lose their shirt. In not-so-ancient times, gambling was viewed as a tool of the devil, much like sex or liquor (this was before illegal drugs). People...

Editorial: Mohegan Tribe steps up DUI efforts at casino (12/01)

"A front-page story in this newspaper Sunday detailed the stepped-up efforts that Mohegan Sun and its owner, the Mohegan Tribe, are taking to keep intoxicated patrons from driving away from the casino. Drunken drivers maim...

Letter: Off-reservation casino vote made no sense (11/30)

"I was very disappointed in the way the referendum was handled and dismayed at the negative results. The pursuit of a Catskill casino has been taking place for the past 14 years. Two questions come...

Editorial: Off-reservation policy affects Seminoles (11/30)

"An Associated Press examination of federal records found nearly a dozen tribes have filed applications to set up casinos on purchased land, close to population centers, but far from sovereign Indian land. The Bush Administration...

Editorial: Keep ban list at Kickapoo Tribe's casino (11/30)

"As casino gambling opportunities continue to expand in Kansas, so do the concerns of many residents about the impact those casinos have on problem gamblers and their families. That’s why it’s disappointing to learn...

Editorial: Gambing hurts social fabric of Oklahoma (11/19)

"Under Gov. Brad Henry, here’s what passes for economic development. The Kaw Nation is about to build a new casino in Braman, Okla., just north of Blackwell, very close to the Kansas border. The tribe...

Editorial: Don't bet future on revenue from casinos (11/16)

"Mayor Dave Bing shouldn't bet Detroit's financial future on casinos, even with poker champ and hometown hero Joe Cada riding an $8.55-million jackpot. Detroit's three state-licensed casinos are feeling the recession's pinch, and the opening...

Opinion: Say no to gaming deal for Seminole Tribe (11/16)

"Florida House Speaker Larry Cretul and Senate President Jeff Atwater are right about the governor's proposed Seminole gaming compact. It's a bad deal for Florida. The compact is intended to enhance state revenues with annual...

Editorial: Seminole Tribe got greedy over gaming (11/13)

"It’s time for Florida to face a fundamental fact: We’re a gambling state; have been for years. So why shouldn’t racetracks be allowed to offer full-scale casino gambling, and local voters have the power to...

Editorial: Say no to talks for Cowlitz Tribe casino (11/10)

"Three La Center city councilors who were elected last week — including one incumbent — all have said they oppose the mega-casino that the Cowlitz Tribe is proposing for north Clark County. Good for them....

Column: No simple bet on Guidiville Band casino (11/09)

"The people who addressed the Contra Costa County supervisors Tuesday came armed with hard-edge opinions on building an Indian casino-resort on the Richmond waterfront. One unemployed man said the Point Molate project proposed by the...

Cartoon: Alabama governor and Choctaw money (11/09)

"Bill Johnson's gamble: Burn Bob Riley? Johnson, GOP gubernatorial candidate and former Riley cabinet member, is claiming Riley took secret donations from Mississippi's Choctaw tribe in trade for his opposition to gambling in Alabama....

Editorial: A county 'sell-out' for Guidiville casino (11/03)

"We are appalled by Contra Costa County officials' move to ram through today with little public review a horrible sell out deal that would ease the path to Nevada-style gambling on the shores of San...

Editorial: Grandstanding on Seminole casino deal (11/02)

"Florida House Speaker Larry Cretul's call for the federal government to fine or shut down games at the Seminole Indians' casinos is highly unorthodox and a bit of a grandstand play. In seeking federal intervention,...

Opinion: Limit casinos to 'historical' Indian lands (10/28)

"As two of the plaintiffs in a federal lawsuit, Stop the Casino 101 Coalition v. Kempthorne, challenging the U.S. Department of Interior’s decision to take 254 acres near Rohnert Park into trust for a casino...

Column: Seminole Class III gaming here to stay (10/26)

"Contradiction has colored Florida gambling policy since the 1940s, when scores of South Florida casinos openly flouted state law. Slots jangled. Blackjack flourished. Floozies hung on arms of big bettors. Local cops moonlighted as casino...

Editorial: Dry Creek casino a 'threat' to community (10/23)

"News that the Dry Creek Band of Pomo Indians is considering building a minor league baseball stadium on property it owns alongside the freeway just south of Petaluma offers some hope to local residents that...

Column: Seminole Tribe holds cards in gaming war (10/23)

"Welcome to the Fourth Seminole War, which kicked off this week when the Florida Legislature asked for federal help in stopping casino games on the tribe's reservations. There's some sorry history here in Florida's efforts...

Column: NIGC to take a 'look' at Seminole gaming (10/22)

"If the state and the Seminoles fail to hammer out a compromise on a gambling compact, what will federal authorities do? That was the multi-million dollar question hanging over the annual Florida Gaming Summit on...

Letter: Oneida casino should pay fair share taxes (10/22)

"Local taxes in New York State are 78-80 percent higher than other states. The Syracuse Post Standard recently did an exposé on this using a $250,000 house as the standard. They mentioned Onondaga and Madison...

Editorial: Smoking at tribal casinos in Montana (10/20)

"It's a niche market created by the last segment of Montana's Clean Indoor Air Act originally put in place four years ago. Across the state smoking is now prohibited in all indoor public places, including...

Letter: Mashantucket empire nearing collapse (10/19)

"The fall of nations and empires often takes place over several generations. Sometimes, however, it's sudden and takes place virtually overnight. Are we on the verge of witnessing a collapse of Foxwoods Resort Casino? It...

Editorial: A bad bet on gaming in North Carolina (10/19)

"Federal law requires states, including this one, to negotiate the terms of gambling with Indian tribes. Federal law requires that tribes be licensed to run operations like those found elsewhere within a state. For more...

Editorial: Guidiville Band casino in wrong place (10/15)

"Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who has helped bring an expansion of casino gambling to the state during his tenure, is finally drawing the line. He has joined the chorus in opposing a plan for Las Vegas-style...

Opinion: Rolling the dice on Alabama bingo (10/12)

"The recent federal court ruling in Madison County is instructive in understanding the complexity of the gambling laws in Alabama, and particularly how state laws would apply to Indian gaming operations within Alabama. It's important...

Editorial: Indian gaming linked to economy (10/12)

"Two significant milestones are taking place within the Mohegan Tribe, owners of Mohegan Sun. Thirteen years ago this weekend, the tribe opened its casino on the banks of the Thames River in Montville. And last...

Editorial: Taxpayers pay for state gaming (10/07)

"A report by The Times of Munster the other day found that Indiana casinos pay taxes averaging 38 percent of revenues, the highest in the Midwest. Casinos in neighboring states pay less, The Times reported....

Editorial: Sick leave policy at tribal casino (10/07)

"Guess what happens when a global flu pandemic meets sick leave rules straight out of the world of Charles Dickens? Workers get sick. More workers get sick. Customers get sick. Bosses who thought they were...

Letter: Ex-Coushatta lawyer's ties to gaming (09/30)

"In the past, as a member of Citizens for Quality Life, I helped vote out gambling in our area because of the negative effect it has on the business economy and the tragic impact it...

Editorial: Negotiate deal for Shinnecock casino (09/29)

"The construction of a casino is far from the only issue in the Shinnecock Indian Nation's long quest for federal recognition. But it may be the most complex one, and the one with the most...

Opinion: Gaming brings jobs to Massachusetts (09/28)

"I have said it before, but it is important to repeat that over 90 percent of casino resort positions would be available to Massachusetts residents, many currently under- or unemployed because of the closure of...

Column: Drunk driving links to Mohegan casino (09/28)

"When I first saw a notice that Mohegan Sun is sponsoring a “Madd About Dancing” fundraiser this week for Mothers Against Drunk Driving, it was soon after the news broke that the woman accused of...

Column: Red carpet for seniors at tribal casinos (09/28)

"You can still smoke in parts of the Agua Caliente Casino in Rancho Mirage, a place where time travels in reverse, sin is celebrated and inhibition does not exist. You can light one cigarette after...

Editorial: A bad bet on off-reservation casinos (09/25)

"While Gov. Charlie Crist pushes his campaign to expand gambling at Seminole Tribe casinos, President Barack Obama is doubling down on the deal. Looking to reverse a Bush administration policy, the U.S. Interior Department is...

Column: Comanche teen studies tribal gaming (09/25)

"On the whole, have casinos benefited the Comanche Nation and other Native American tribes who own and operate them? This question became the subject of an Advanced Placement English class research paper for Rob Boling...

Editorial: The realities of gaming dependence (09/25)

"Lawmakers convinced that gambling revenues are an easy fix for busted state budgets may change their minds after reading a detailed, new report on the subject. Gambling is big business, but it turns out lotteries,...

Opinion: Tribal casinos will overrun rural America (09/24)

"Every working day I receive fifteen to twenty emails of newspaper articles from around the country regarding issues having to do with tribal casinos. There are a whole host of different things happening around the...

Editorial: Milking the Seminole Tribe casino cow (09/24)

"Gov. Crist wants a special session to get the Legislature to ratify a new gambling deal with the Seminole Tribe. Under the terms of the proposed compact, the state would get a nice cut of...

Opinion: Smoking, sovereignty at tribal casinos (09/23)

"When you pull up to the gas pumps at the Grand Ronde Station outside the Spirit Mountain Casino, there's a surprise: You can pump your own gas. This exception to Oregon's ban on self service...

Column: Rincon Band casino refuses military ID (09/23)

"Sam Farr went to Harrah's Rincon Casino this past Saturday night to see a rap concert. He had no intention of drinking at the event. He's recovering from a horrific car accident that left...

Column: North Carolina got stuck with gambling (09/22)

"Yes, we’ve got trouble right here in Carolina. Trouble that starts with “T” and rhymes with “G” and stands for gambling. Our Music Man impersonation aside, lurking below the radar screen unregulated gambling is quietly...

Editorial: Gaming not a cure to economic woes (09/21)

"The casino debate is about to heat up on Beacon Hill, fueled by House Speaker Robert DeLeo's announcement last week that he now strongly supports the construction of resort casinos in Massachusetts. Previously, the Winthrop...

Opinion: Indian gaming policy shuts out critics (09/18)

"The proposed Graton Rancheria casino in Rohnert Park is a good example of how tribes are allowed to bypass regulations everyone else must abide by. The site is zoned rural residential and agricultural under the...

Editorial: More voices on Nottawaseppi board (09/16)

"Last month's opening of FireKeepers Casino created the potential for new revenue for area governments - and possible conflict about how that money would be disbursed. But at least one political issue has been resolved...

Graton Chairman: Indian gaming bill was unfair (09/15)

"In a recent editorial, “Money talks” (Sept. 4), The Press Democrat claimed that “big money and power politics” was the driving force behind a state Senate committee's unanimous rejection of Assemblyman Jared Huffman's resolution on...

Letter: Mohawk casino doesn't help members (09/14)

"I read the article in your newspaper regarding the "tribe" visiting the Sullivan County casino deal in the Catskills. I would like to clarify a few statements. First, the Tribal Council does not constitute the...

Editorial: Don't rush to approve Seminole deal (09/14)

"The president of Florida’s Senate showed this week that deliberation and due diligence are still valued by some leaders of state government. Jeff Atwater, a Republican from Palm Beach County, e-mailed senators on Thursday, advising...

Editorial: Excitement at Chickasaw Nation track (09/10)

"Much excitement attended the recent re-branding of a Tulsa tribal casino as a "Hard Rock Hotel.” More than a casino, the Cherokee Nation facility boasts a hotel, five restaurants, five nightclubs, convention space and...

Editorial: Tweak the Seminole gaming compact (09/09)

"There is a school of thought that says the tentative pact on Florida casino gambling is worth passing because it means so many jobs. Although we have not seen exactly how many jobs, there are...

Opinion: Senate pick's troubling gaming history (09/09)

"Florida Gov. Charles Crist’s appointment of his closest political associate, unknown George LeMieux to the Senate may cause some harm to Crist’s own bid for the same Senate seat next year. Two weeks ago...

Column: Mashantucket Tribe addicted to money (09/08)

"The world's wealthiest Indian tribe suddenly can't pay its bills. But you wouldn't know it from the 800 or so members of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, who can't give up the gambling money and...

Editorial: Compromise on Seminole gaming deal (09/08)

"The good news is that Gov. Charlie Crist and the Seminole Tribe beat the clock in ratifying a new gambling compact. The bad news is that the compact needs work — lots of it —...

Editorial: Deck stacked against Florida on gaming (09/07)

"The deck is stacked against Florida in its efforts to get a fair deal from Seminole Indian casinos. Yet that's no reason for the Legislature to fold and blindly accept a proposed pact with...

Editorial: Mashantucket Tribe a victim of success (09/07)

"The next chapter of the rags-to-riches story of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe - the precipitous fall from near the top of the gaming world's pinnacle - won't be written for months, if not years, to...

Editorial: Expand gaming for Eastern Cherokees (09/04)

"Having a new resident in North Carolina’s Executive Mansion has improved the prospects of an expansion of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians’ casino. The Asheville Citizen-Times recently reported that Gov. Bev Perdue hasn’t ruled...

Editorial: Address off-reservation gaming concerns (09/02)

"To be certain, state lawmakers must do everything they can to revitalize the economy - and pushing forward with casino plans for the Catskills should be in the mix. But it's no cure-all. Gov. David...

Editorial: Lawmakers in hot seat on Seminole deal (09/02)

"The gambling compact reached Monday between Gov. Charlie Crist and the Seminole Tribe puts the Legislature on the hot seat. With a special session looming in the fall, lawmakers will be forced to either approve...

Editorial: Let Florida voters decide on full casinos (09/02)

"The Florida Legislature should permit full Las Vegas-style casinos in any county where voters approve them. We’re already halfway there. The new gambling pact between the state and the Seminole Tribe of Florida, if approved...

Blog: New wrinkles in compact with Seminole Tribe (09/01)

"My first reaction to reading the latest gambling agreement between the Seminoles and Governor Charlie Crist: Uh-oh. Here we go again. Just like the 2007 original, this version gives too much to the Seminoles,...

Editorial: Take more revenues from tribal gaming (08/31)

"We've never been a fan of the casinos as a source of revenue for the state, but it's hard to object when the state has its own round-the-clock lotteries and its multiple scratch-off games. Unfortunately,...

Column: Ping-pong on Seminole gaming compact (08/31)

"In the short term, not much will change if a revised Seminole gambling compact is announced Monday, the Legislature's deadline for a deal. There'll still be blackjack and other table games running at the...

Jack Duran: Indian gaming and bankruptcy law (08/28)

"I am likely breaking some sort of gaming taboo discussing the topic of bankruptcy, however, with the current state of the economy, struggling to recover from the collapse of the financial markets, the bankruptcy filings...

Editorial: Questionable Pequot Tribe priorities (08/28)

"News that the Mashantucket Pequots are in serious financial trouble nearly was overshadowed by the comments of the tribe's chairman, Michael Thomas, about the implications of their staggering debt. Working with an independent investment bank,...

Opinion: Hysteria over Tohono O'odham casino (08/28)

"Recently, there has been an inordinate amount of near hysteria about the Tohono O'odham Nation's desire to construct a destination resort and gaming facility in the West Valley. Contrary to the overheated rhetoric coming from...

Editorial: Start working with Shinnecock Nation (08/27)

"More than three decades after the Shinnecock Indian Nation applied for federal recognition, there's every reason to believe that the finish line is months - not years - away. So it's time for Albany to...

Column: Quapaw casino boosts area economy (08/26)

"The Downstream Casino Resort recently released some numbers about its first year of operation that I think you should see. These, of course, are raw numbers. They tell a story, but sometimes it can...

Opinion: Guidiville casino stirs false prosperity (08/24)

"One of the greatest mistakes California voters ever made was in 1998 by approving Proposition 5 allowing Indian casinos. The proposed 415-acre casino-hotel-retail Point Molate development at the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge's eastern end is no...

Opinion: Gaming a safe bet in Massachusetts (08/24)

"Walk with me as we navigate the crowds to watch the high rollers play a time-honored game of chance: betting on the future of Massachusetts casinos. Move quickly past the carnival sounds of the slot...

Editorial: Resolve Fond du Lac casino dispute (08/19)

"So what exactly is stipulated in the contract between the city of Duluth and the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, the 1986 deal that allowed downtown property to become Indian land and...

Editorial: No to Internet poker in California (08/18)

"Given the state's dire fiscal circumstances, California's Legislature is ripe for a politically painless source of new revenues. On the surface, Internet poker appears to provide just that. But don't bet on it. None of...

Editorial: Bad bet on gaming in California (08/17)

"Given the state's dire fiscal circumstances, California's Legislature is ripe for a politically painless source of new revenues. On the surface, Internet poker appears to provide just that. But don't bet on it. None of...

Editorial: Tribal gaming thrives in Oklahoma (08/17)

"It's an interesting — maybe troubling is more like it — phenomenon in Oklahoma. While more of our families need food stamps and seek help from local food banks, our state’s gaming industry continues to...

Editorial: Compromise on Seminole gaming (08/17)

"It should have been an amicable arrangement that provides enough benefits to keep both the state of Florida and the Seminole Tribe contented. But the two sides are still far apart on a gaming compact,...

Column: Eight days at Nottawaseppi casino (08/13)

"If you haven't taken the half-hour eastward drive from Kalamazoo down I-94 in the past week or so, you've missed quite an extravagant eight days. Other than the opening weekend -- when long lines...

Editorial: Tribal casino is no economic engine (08/12)

"Firekeepers Casino had been open less than 24 hours last week before it could brag it made somebody rich. A Kalamazoo-area woman won $469,000. Will this casino near Battle Creek yield a similar jackpot...

Cecil Andrus: Oppose off-reservation casino (08/10)

Ed. Note: Cecil D. Andrus is a former secretary of the Interior who served during the Carter administration. He also served as governor of Idaho. (Correction: He was not the governor of Oregon) "While state...

Editorial: Oklahoma tribes build destinations (08/10)

"What Oklahoma has needed from casinos for a long time is happening — the transformation into destination gambling spots. This past week, the Cherokee Casino and Resort became the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa....

Editorial: Wampanoag casino odds grow longer (08/03)

"If we were gambling folks, we would wager that there won’t be a casino built in Middleboro any time soon — or ever. A series of setbacks has made it clear that Middleboro officials and...

Column: Keeping count of tribal casino impacts (07/29)

"A new study of the impacts of gambling on Connecticut, commissioned by the General Assembly, doesn't produce a lot of surprises for the people of southeastern Connecticut, who already know that the towns near Foxwoods...

Opinion: End tribal gaming monopoly in Arizona (07/27)

"We've completed a 2009 legislative session which, though dominated by work on a balanced state budget, failed to produce one. Or, if you prefer, failed to produce one that Gov. Jan Brewer would sign. This...

Editorial: Connecticut giving up gaming money (07/27)

"While Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell and Democratic legislative leaders argued for months about how to raise money for a state budget, millions owed the state by two Indian casinos is sitting around uncollected. Sixteen...

Editorial: Tribal gaming paying off in Oklahoma (07/23)

"Not quite five years since the election where Oklahoma voters approved a lottery and the expansion of tribal gaming, here are a few things we know: →Gaming has been a big, big winner for Oklahoma’s...

Letter: White man upset for losing casino game (07/21)

"The White man entered this country, pushed the Native Americans off their land, made laws of landownership and expected the Native Americans to follow along. The Native Americans have followed these laws, slowly bought back...

GreenBiz: Green energy in the gaming industry (07/13)

"When I asked Anne Kelly, Director of Governance at Ceres, why the organization had never assessed the gaming industry before -- noting that Harrah's Entertainment, the biggest player, had 2008 revenues of more than $10...

Opinion: Poarch Creek blimp casts dark shadow (07/13)

"It wasn't long ago that Atmore's most memorable feature was Alabama's death row. I saw a few people die there, in that electric chair they called the "Yella Mama." That's hard to forget. But...

Opinion: Odds on Salinan casino not very good (07/13)

"The rumor scurries into town every few years, old-timers say, and it’s back again, lurking this time in that cauldron of get-rich-quick schemes so expertly stirred by our impressive local army of scam artists and...

Opinion: Safety at Nottawaseppi Huron casino (07/13)

"Officials from Emmett Charter Township, the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi and FireKeepers Casino are confident that all public safety agreements needed to ensure that law enforcement and other public safety services are available...

Editorial: Don't bet on Oklahoma casino revenues (07/09)

"Oklahoma's Indian gaming industry contributed more than $105 million to the state's treasury last year, up about $24 million over the previous fiscal year. That's a revenue stream that didn't exist a decade ago and...

Editorial: Ban smoking at tribal casinos in Florida (07/09)

"New state legislation calls for non-smoking zones in any new facilities at Seminole Tribe casinos. That’s nice, but Jai-Alai frontons and cardrooms, including the one in Fort Pierce, are totally smoke-free. What’s good for Treasure...

Editorial: It's about time for Connecticut casinos (07/08)

"We have to ask, “What took so long?” But nonetheless, a hearty pat on the back to the rival Foxwoods Resort and Mohegan Sun casinos for teaming up on a marketing campaign to promote southeastern...

Commentary: Alabama's love affair with gaming (07/07)

"Alabama’s love affair with gambling leaves it cheating on its own state with mistresses in Mississippi, Florida, Georgia, and in the case of really high rollers, places like Lake Tahoe and Las Vegas. I have...

Opinion: Connecticut clueless about tribal gaming (07/06)

"The gambling industry brings with it built-in negative impacts wherever it exists — from crime, traffic and zoning issues to the 3 percent to 4 percent of the population that becomes problem or pathological gamblers....

Column: Mashantucket casino road to nowhere (07/01)

"When the Mohegan Indians first started building their casino in the late 1990s, G. Michael Brown, the tough New Jersey lawyer who helped mastermind the development of Foxwoods for the Mashantucket Pequots, scoffed at plans...

Editorial: Resolve electronic bingo in Alabama (06/30)

"Let's hope the Alabama Supreme Court quickly resolves the question of electronic bingo once and for all -- if nothing else to end the war between Gov. Bob Riley and Attorney General Troy King. The...

Poarch Creek Leader: Trust lands and gaming (06/29)

"We believe it is important to correct some grievous errors made in Gary Palmer's opinion piece published June 17 in your newspaper (Alabama Voices, Dangerous Bet). Mr. Palmer's guest column brings to mind the adage...

Column: Questions about death at Mohegan Sun (06/29)

"State police have wrapped up an investigation into the death of a 44-year-old Bronx man who was found dead in his hotel room at the Mohegan Sun May 12, concluding, according to a department spokesman,...

Cheryl Schmit: Gaming investors 'create' tribes (06/26)

"Nine years ago, 64 percent of the California electorate voted to give American Indians a monopoly on casino-style gambling. It was an effort to help lift California Indians out of poverty – all 32,000 enrolled...

Column: Pala Band casino billboard goes dark (06/25)

"The Pala Casino got its LED lights knocked out last week. As heavyweight bouts go, it was no contest. Score one for the much-maligned bureaucrats. This time around, the pencil-pushers showed blazing speed and...

Column: Let Narragansett Tribe operate racino (06/25)

"Rhode Island missed its chance to be ahead of the game. The Narragansett Indian casino proposed in West Warwick went down in flames after a carefully organized, well-financed opposition led by some state leaders...

Editorial: Seminole jackpot won't help schools (06/24)

"Twenty-three years ago, proponents sold voters on the Florida Lottery by pledging that revenues generated by state-run gambling would be a boon to public education. But Floridians soon discovered that lottery proceeds often simply replaced...

Editorial: Florida gaming expansion a bad bet (06/23)

"Twenty-three years ago, proponents sold voters on the Florida Lottery by pledging that revenues generated by state-run gambling would be a boon to public education. Since the first tickets were sold in 1988, the lottery...

Editorial: Casino road paved with good intentions (06/22)

"The opening and dedication of a new public works project usually is an opportunity for fanfare, with speeches and proclamations followed by a ceremonious ribbon-cutting. But next Tuesday's ceremony celebrating the opening of the...

Editorial: Good news for Blue Lake casino hotel (06/18)

"It's with a strong sense of joy and relief that we report this week that the Blue Lake Rancheria has completed a major construction project. The Blue Lake Casino Hotel is now ready to open...

Opinion: Ruling a threat to Poarch Creek gaming (06/17)

"The United States Supreme Court recently issued an opinion that could impact the future of Poarch Creek Indian gambling operations in Alabama. After gaining recognition as a tribe by the federal government in 1984, the...

Column: Prairie Band seeks beauty in golf course (06/17)

"It was an advertising slogan for golfing in Michigan, but it struck Steve Ortiz. “It said, 'Come and play in the natural beauty of the state,’” Ortiz said. So when it came time to...

Opinion: Gaming tribes pay to play in California (06/12)

"The pay to play mentality has never been more prevalent than it is today. The historic special interests have been around a long time: unions, big business, medical and legal based associations, prison guards and...

Opinion: Avoid conflict over tribal gaming revenues (06/11)

"The recent article in the Enquirer about the Firekeepers Casino and the local revenue sharing board (LRSB) was very interesting. It presented information, but also dealt with possibilities and maybes. It is very important that...

Editorial: Tribal casinos contribute to Oklahoma (06/09)

"The opening of mega-casinos like Riverwind south of Norman and Windstar near the Oklahoma-Texas border has helped boost the state's share of gaming taxes in the past few years. National Indian gaming officials say eight...

Editorial: Don't negotiate for Cowlitz Tribe casino (06/04)

"It makes even less sense now than it did a year ago for the La Center City Council to be talking with the Cowlitz Tribe about the casino that’s proposed near the north county town....

Editorial: Gaming at Cherokee smoke shops a bad idea (06/03)

"We hope the Cherokee Nation doesn't decide to allow smoke shops to bring in gambling machines. The tribe's Council is talking about a proposal to allow gambling machines and alcohol sales at tribal smoke shops,...

Chumash Tribe: Celebrating 15 years of gaming (06/01)

"It was 15 years ago this month that we first opened the doors of our Chumash Casino to an enthusiastic crowd — including many guests who continue to visit us today. We opened with 210...

Rant: Tribal casino increases public safety costs (06/01)

"n my area of Southwest Michigan there is an over abundance of Indian Casino's with several more already in the works. The problem is there is also an over abundant increase in calls for emergency...

Mechoopda Chair: County wrong on casino plans (05/28)

"As the chairman of the Mechoopda Tribe, I have made it my highest priority to ensure that our tribe conducts itself with honor and integrity. However, as events continue to unfold concerning the development...

The Eye: Watching Larry EchoHawk on gaming (05/25)

"A brow furrowed over The Eye this month during a fawning U.S. Senate confirmation hearing for Larry EchoHawk, who was voted in as Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs at the Department of Interior. The Obama...

Column: Gaming is now looking good in Massachusetts (05/21)

"As lawmakers scramble for revenues, casino gambling — declared dead just a year ago — is seeing its odds surge again, helped on by a key change in leadership on Beacon Hill and the state's...

Column: EchoHawk hasn't supported Indian gaming (05/21)

"It’s been nearly 20 years since Larry EchoHawk was elected state attorney general, but to Idaho Democrats it is the just-yesterday story of the 1990 Idaho election that resulted in a 21-21 tie in the...

Editorial: Laying blame for gaming expansion (05/21)

"The blame game has started in Tallahassee in the wake of the capitulation of the House of Representatives to the Senate resulting in passage of a gambling package that authorizes the governor to negotiate a...

Column: Connecticut tribes resurrected by casinos (05/20)

"The matter of slot machine casinos is enough of a muddle without fussing over which mythical Connecticut Indian tribe is which. I have had many calls and letters lately about various columns -- including ones...

Column: A practical compact for Seminole Tribe (05/19)

"I finally got around to dissecting the 105-page gambling bill the Legislature passed earlier this month. I never thought I'd say this, but the proposed compact with the Seminoles is an astonishingly good document....

Editorial: Recession no excuse to legalize casinos (05/19)

"Some are blowing on the dice hoping that, sooner or later, it’ll happen; others are just as fervently wishing it won’t. With a leadership change in the Legislature and cash ever harder to come by...

Editorial: Pokagon casino helps local governments (05/19)

"The release of $6.2 million in revenue sharing from the Four Winds Casino to local governmental units this month was welcome news. The schools, libraries, New Buffalo township and city, Berrien County, as well as...

Editorial: Mismanagement at Puyallup Tribe casinos (05/19)

"Gambling is an ethically challenged industry and a capricious source of revenue – as witness its sudden decline in the current recession. We wish the Puyallup tribe weren’t economically dependent on the profits from...

Opinion: Lip service about alcohol at tribal casinos (05/18)

" I am less than impressed with Mohegan Sun's response. Mohegan Sun's misguided marginal response to these tragedies is to reduce their free drink servings from three drinks per hour to two drinks per hour....

Editorial: Gaming degree good for Oregon tribes (05/18)

"Several years ago, the Spirit Mountain Casino eclipsed Multnomah Falls as the most visited destination in Oregon. The casino complex, owned by the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde, draws roughly three million visitors a...

Editorial: Approve gaming deal for Seminole Tribe (05/18)

"Gov. Charlie Crist should not have to engage in a high-stakes poker game to negotiate a gaming compact with the Seminole Tribe. But the state Legislature dealt him that hand, and he’s forced to play...

Editorial: Stop fighting Mechoopda casino bid (05/15)

"Butte County keeps spending taxpayer money on a losing bet. It's time to stop fighting and start talking. Butte County supervisors decided to gamble with taxpayer money. So far they are more than $300,000 in...

Dave Palermo: Recession hits tribal casino industry (05/14)

"The recession has had a widely diverse impact on the 360 historically impoverished American Indian tribes in the lower 48 states. If anything, it has created an even larger gap between Native America’s haves and...

Editorial: Don't fight tribes on smoking at casinos (05/11)

"Now both tribes have reached agreements with Gov. M. Jodi Rell to curtail smoking at their respective casinos, yet Attorney General Richard Blumenthal and some lawmakers continue insisting on a needless legal fight to try...

Opinions: A new gaming compact for Seminole Tribe (05/08)

The St. Petersburg Times: "Florida has more than enough gambling. Ideally, it would have less. But the compromise the Florida Legislature is expected to vote on today appears to expand gambling in a measured way....

Opinion: Legislative threats to California gaming tribes (05/06)

"Federal legislation backed by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and California Senator Barbara Boxer are a dagger poised at the heart of California’s Native American tribes. Most Californians are unaware of the impact of two...

Mille Lacs Executive: No to non-Indian gaming (05/05)

"I was disappointed to read Neal St. Anthony's column encouraging state leaders to add slot machines to Canterbury Park and Running Aces horse tracks. The public is surely not surprised that I, as the leader...

Column: Florida governor pushes for Seminole deal (05/04)

"Governor Charlie Crist has gently but firmly raised the stakes in the debate over gaming, saying Sunday that failure to pass a gambling agreement with the Seminole Indian Tribe of Florida could translate into line...

Editorial: Reject expansion of gaming in Florida (05/01)

"Budget desperation might lead the Legislature to approve the de facto expansion of gambling at Seminole casinos, which now offer high-stakes slots and card games such as blackjack and baccarat. But budget desperation and the...

Column: Driver in fatal accident drank at tribal casino (04/29)

"Christopher Brulotte, the 25-year-old construction worker accused of causing a fatal accident April 5 on Interstate 395, sweeping another car off the highway after hitting it from behind at a high rate of speed, was...

Column: Allow non-Indian gaming in Minnesota (04/28)

"State Sen. Dick Day, a Republican from Owatonna, couldn't even get a hearing this session from DFL leadership for his perennial bill that would open Canterbury Park and the Running Aces horse track to...

Column: Beloved bingo under attack in Alabama (04/27)

"Confession time: I love bingo. Not the kind that everyone's talking about these days -- i.e., the kind Gov. Bob Riley says involves slot machines masquerading as bingo. I love the kind I used to...

Opinion: Seminole gaming deal bad in the long run (04/24)

"Take the money and run, says state Sen. Alex Diaz de la Portilla of Miami. The Seminoles' latest proposed casino-gambling deal, blessed by Gov. Charlie Crist, offers the state a quickie save during these tough...

Opinions: Smoking ban at Connecticut casinos (04/22)

The New London Day published rival opinions on a controversial bill that would ban smoking at Connecticut's tribal casinos. Lynn Malerba, the vice chairwoman of the Mohegan Tribe, says the bill would infringe on sovereignty...

Opinion: Leave tribes alone on casino smoking ban (04/20)

"Proposed legislation that would ban smoking at the Mohegan Sun casino and Foxwoods Resort Casino is pointless and counterproductive. When considering legislation and its proposed imposition on the two tribal nations, the legislature must note...

Alabama-Coushatta Chair: Gaming will help reservation (04/17)

"The national economic downturn touches all of us, but the economic struggles so many Americans now face is one that poses a long-running challenge to members of my tribe, the Alabama-Coushatta of Texas. One in...

Editorial: Drop fight against Mechoopda Tribe's casino (04/17)

"Our view: It's time for the county and the Mechoopda to start talking. The dismissal of Butte County's lawsuit against the Mechoopda tribe in an effort to block a casino near the intersection of Highways...

Column: Unions could be headed to Mohegan casino (04/15)

"Remember how madatfoxwoods.com, an anonymous Web site aimed at picking fights with Foxwoods management, eventually morphed into uawatfoxwoods.org, once the union campaign to organize table game dealers got under way? And so if the appearance...

Column: Hypocrisy on Seminole gaming in Florida (04/15)

"Charlie Crist had this one right. The idea is to allow the Seminoles to set up card games and Vegas-style slots in their existing casinos in exchange for as much as $400million a year to...

Editorial: Big voices join Texas tribes for gaming (04/10)

"Texans are no longer talking with tiny voices when advocating legalization of casino gambling. Now statesmen are abuzz with billion-dollar money-making reasons to set up the slot machines and card tables. They're asking for casinos...

Editorial: Seminole compact benefits education (04/10)

"Taking risks, like going double-or-nothing, spending your last $1 bill on a slot machine or picking a certain number when the odds are down, can be uncomfortable and scary. It also sometimes pays off. The...

Alturas Rancheria drops plans for first casino (04/09)

The Alturas Rancheria has dropped plans for its first casino. The tribe wanted to open a casino on an allotment. But the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the National Indian Gaming Commission say the land...

Editorial: Last rites for Cowlitz casino agreement (04/07)

"Clark County commissioners are expected to take yet another step away from a proposed Cowlitz tribal casino Tuesday night when they vote on a rescission of a 2004 memorandum of understanding with the tribe. Two...

Editorial: Restore gaming rights for Texas tribes (04/06)

"El Paso looks to have some committee clout, and we expect it to be used, when casino gambling bills will be discussed Wednesday in the Texas Legislature. Proponents and opponents will appear before the House...

Opinion: Drop dreams of off-reservation casino (04/06)

"One year — maybe this year or the year after that — the political, social and economic stars will finally align and allow Sullivan County to take hold of its elusive casino grail. Well, guess...

Opinion: Tigua casino and women's voting rights (04/06)

"If you hang around the Texas Legislature long enough — usually about 45 minutes or so will do it — you're likely to see something unlikely. Recent highlight from the Department of the Unlikely: Female...

Editorial: First Seminole compact a winning deal (04/06)

"Gov. Charlie Crist made a mistake in 2007 by signing a gambling compact with the Seminole Indian Tribe without legislative approval. But after months of legislative discussion, Crist's deal with the tribe is starting to...

Editorial: Close the deal with Seminole Tribe (04/02)

"During a crisis such as the one Florida and many states are facing, all options should be on the table. But in Florida, unlike other states, one option is such a no-brainer, we're baffled why...

Editorial: Share tribal gaming revenues with state (04/01)

"Suggestion to lawmakers in Austin: Here's a way cities get needed projects, but the money doesn't come out of taxpayers' pockets. If casino gambling is allowed on Texas Indian reservations, and at Texas horse tracks,...

Editorial: Don't force smoking ban on tribal casinos (04/01)

"In a February editorial, we raised concerns about a proposal being pushed in Hartford that would force a no-smoking ban on the region’s casinos. Although we appreciate the underlying health issue of second-hand smoke, we...

Editorial: Why fight more gaming in Florida? (03/27)

"Florida is a gambling state - always has been. We have perhaps more pari-mutuel outlets than any state, a huge lottery and casino gambling has a strong foothold. Why fight this any longer? Gambling hurts...

Editorial: Negotiate smoking with Connecticut tribes (03/25)

"From a tribal perspective, Connecticut passing a law to force a smoking ban at the Indian-run casinos would be akin to the state legislating a smoke-free Canada. Attorney General Richard Blumenthal is preparing a legal...

Editorial: A sucker's bet on Seminole compact (03/24)

"In a cynical attempt for new revenue that avoids raising taxes, some in Tallahassee—led by Gov. Charlie Crist and certain legislators—are banking on making Floridians suckers to help balance the state’s $6 billion budget deficit....

Column: Pequot casino road goes to nowhere (03/23)

"I sure wish I hadn't done that. If recessions had names that sentence might be a good choice for this one. Imagine how many people are strung out on regret over things purchased in the...

Opinion: Share off-reservation casino in Oregon (03/20)

"Now is the perfect time for Portland to do something much bigger than a baseball stadium. Creating a shared tribal casino in Portland would help all the state's tribes. It would have the additional benefit...

Editorial: Approve compact with Seminole Tribe (03/20)

" This deal’s straightforward. In negotiations with state government over a gaming compact, Florida’s Seminole Indian Tribe asks for exclusive rights to house-banked card games in exchange for a cut of the profits. Gov. Charlie...

Letter: Columnist wrong about Poarch Creek gaming (03/18)

"Dear Mr. Flowers: While we realize you are better known as a former Alabama legislator, we are of the belief that people practicing journalism should hold the profession in high esteem and work within some...

Editorial: Review Spokane off-reservation casino plan (03/16)

"The Spokane Indian Tribe, the author of so much of the region’s history, has a glittering vision for the future. It’s a vision of bright lights, excited crowds, whirring slot machines and lots and lots...

Alabama Governor: Still opposed to gaming (03/13)

"Your newspaper may have recently published a column written by Steve Flowers that is totally false in what it says about me. Not just a few mistakes, but every line in it about me is...

Editorial: Casino liquor expansion was bad idea (03/12)

"Three decades ago, Connecticut woke up and changed the law that allowed drinking while driving. But too frequently, we are reminded that the last drink before driving can be equally deadly. Saturday, a Connecticut College...

Editorial: Oklahoma tribes moving beyond gaming (03/12)

"With more than 90 tribal casinos in the state and bigger ones going up recently, it will be difficult for Indian nations to “push beyond gaming.” This past Sunday, the Phoenix published a story in...

Editorial: Flip-flop on casino liquor expansion (03/11)

"It's not worth it. Drop the idea. That is what this newspaper had to say last week about Gov. M. Jodi Rell's proposal to allow around-the-clock liquor sales at the state's Indian-owned casinos to boost...

Opinion: A better deal with Seminole Tribe (03/11)

"The Tallahassee Democrat voiced editorial support for a compact with the Seminole Tribe of Florida, saying it should win the approval of the Legislature. The South Florida Gaming Coalition agrees with the Democrat that a...

Column: Billy Joel ashamed of tribal casino gig (03/10)

"I must confess I have Billy Joel's entire catalog of CDs and vinyl LPs. As a high school kid in Ohio in the 1980s, I loved his songs and lyrics, especially his older stuff....

Column: Gambling through the recession at Mohegan (03/09)

"I was curious, after reading of Mohegan Sun's recession-busting “Stimulus, Recovery and Rebound” promotion, a potpourri of new discounts on food, hotel rooms and gambling, just what it might be like to play a quarter-penny...

Opinion: Oklahoma gaming boom won't last forever (03/09)

"The logic is obvious: Any number of things could cool off Indian gaming, including the maturation of markets, increased competition, litigation, and regulation. Two factors — the great number of tribes in the state...

Editorial: Openness on Tohono O'odham Nation casino (03/09)

"The furor over a chunk of unincorporated land in the West Valley is what happens when the aggressive pursuits of vision and self-interest of formidable forces collide. Glendale and the Tohono O'odham Nation are not...

Opinion: Make gaming deal with Narragansett Tribe (03/05)

"Almost 15 years ago I was co-counsel for the Narragansett tribe in its successful quest to the United States Supreme Court to be recognized as a sovereignty subject to federal protection. Last week, the tribe...

Editorial: Conflict on gaming in South Dakota Legislature (03/05)

"Conflicts of interest in the state Legislature? They certainly exist, and even a casual observer can spot some of them. But legislative conflicts jumped into the state’s headlines when Scott Heidepriem, head of the Senate...

Editorial: Tohono O'odham casino raises questions (03/04)

"The Tohono O'odham Nation of southwestern Arizona is maneuvering toward opening what would be the state's largest casino-resort on land it owns in the West Valley at 91st and Northern avenues. Is the Valley ready...

Editorial: Approve compact with Seminole Tribe (03/04)

"We used to hunt deer for a living; now we hunt deals for a living," Max B. Osceola Jr. told the Tallahassee Democrat's editorial board Tuesday. He was describing today's premier enterprises of the Seminole...

Viejas Chair: Tribes address problem gambling (03/02)

"Leaders of 230 American Indian tribes operating 420 casinos in 28 states are focused on using casino gaming to strengthen tribal governments and build strong and diversified tribal economies. It is our responsibility to...

Editorial: Expanded casino liquor sales a bad idea (03/02)

"Question: How desperate is too desperate? Answer: Around-the-clock liquor sales at Connecticut's Indian-owned casinos. Gov. M. Jodi Rell has suggested liquor sales be extended to 24 hours a day at Foxwoods Resort, MGM Grand at...

Editorial: Ethics and gaming for South Dakota tribe (02/27)

"State Rep. Kristi Noem this week has raised a question about the ethics of a member of the South Dakota Senate. As Sen. Scott Heidepriem pushed a resolution that would let South Dakota voters allow...

Editorial: Texas seeks to keep gamblers at home (02/27)

"A non-scientific perusal of the vehicle license tags in the parking lots of Oklahoma tribal gaming casinos shows an abundance of Texans partaking in the games. Texans want in on the other end of the...

Opinion: Minnesota tribes can't shoulder state budget (02/26)

"The state of Minnesota has a revenue problem, and Rep. Steve Drazkowski apparently believes the state’s 55,000 Indian citizens should solve it. According to his recent column Rep. Drazkowski thinks Minnesota Indian tribes should renegotiate...

Editorial: Off-reservation casino a good bet (02/25)

"We’ve long thought the Calexico casino project would be good for the city and it’s nice to finally see a bit of movement on that front, but we hope the city isn’t putting all its...

Column: Alabama governor tied to gaming interests (02/25)

"In last year’s U.S. Senate investigations surrounding the convictions of the infamous duo Jack Abramoff and Michael Scanlon, it was revealed that Bob Riley’s 2002 Election Campaign received at least $600,000, and probably close to...

Editorial: No to extended liquor sales at tribal casinos (02/24)

"There is one component of the Republican and governor’s proposals that we strongly oppose: The provision to allow extended liquor service at the region’s two casinos. The governor estimates that by allowing round-the-clock alcohol service,...

Editorial: State loses battle on Seminole compact (02/23)

"It's unfortunate Gov. Charlie Crist didn't possess the steely resolve of former governors Lawton Chiles and Jeb Bush when it came to combating efforts by the Seminole Tribe to turn Florida into a casino-gambling state....

Turtle Talk: Negotiate new compacts in Michigan (02/23)

"The success — shocking and aweing (surely to the MichGO plaintiffs — :) ) — of the Gun Lake Band in getting their Class III gaming compact through the Michigan Senate (controlled by Republicans) and...

Opinion: Negotiate new compacts in Minnesota (02/20)

"As we face an expected $7 billion state budget deficit, many gambling proposals are being introduced — from installing gaming machines in bars or at the Minneapolis/St. Paul Airport, to legalizing sports betting around the...

Editorial: EchoHawk nomination and Indian gaming (02/20)

"The big discussion in the tiny Grant Parish village of Creola centers on a question only the president of the United States can answer: Will the president appoint Larry EchoHawk to be head of the...

Editorial: The right deal for Gun Lake casino (02/19)

"The state Legislature's hand was forced after the U.S. Supreme Court gave a big win to the Gun Lake band of Pottawatomi Indians in the tribe's push to build an Allegan County casino. The state...

Letter: Rumsey Band casino a boost to economy (02/19)

"I am writing to take issue with Corky Faciutto's comments in the Jan. 27 Daily Democrat about the jobs provided by Cache Creek Casino Resort. I have lived in the Capay Valley for 28 years...

Turtle Talk: No 'rock and roll' for Burt Lake casino (02/18)

"In short, I doubt the “Indian tribal gaming” language was intended to include tribes like the Burt Lake Band. It is my understanding (I was living in Grand Forks, N.D. when the voters adopted this...

Phil Hogen: Defending NIGC's actions on Class II (02/11)

"The NIGC, under my direction, has tried to keep Indian gaming safe by protecting a class of games that can soundly be defended as Class II in the light of statutory language and existing case...

Column: Pequot casino keeps an eye on patrons (02/09)

"Even in an age when we've become accustomed to being watched, counted and tracked as we punch in key codes and swipe our way through gates and checkouts, the modern casino still stands out for...

Opinion: Bingo battle escalating in Alabama (02/05)

"In Gadsden, Jasper, Dothan, Whitehall and elsewhere across Alabama bingo is springing up in many different forms...and it’s giving Attorney General Troy King a headache because the laws establishing the games are different in most...

Editorial: Gun Lake casino a virtual certainty (02/04)

"Sometime next year, southwestern Michigan will have another casino. That became a virtual certainty late last week when the U.S. Department of the Interior put in trust 137 acres at U.S. 131 near Wayland for...

Editorial: Seminole Tribe's big promises on gaming (02/04)

"This week Florida’s Seminole Tribe upped the ante on a gambling compact with the state by promising very big numbers in job creation, economic development and state revenue. Talk about temptation during a recession. Rep....

Editorial: Don't bet on gaming in Massachusetts (02/04)

"When asked last year to place a bet on legalizing casinos in Massachusetts, the Legislature folded. Opponents, led by House Speaker Sal DiMasi, questioned whether the resort casinos proposed by Gov. Deval Patrick would produce...

Editorial: Tigua casino was a blessing to economy (02/02)

"We believe Texas, which already has a lottery, should legalize slot machines at horse tracks, as does nearby New Mexico, where Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino is only five minutes from Downtown El Paso. And...

Editorial: Gun Lake casino not an economic stimulus (02/02)

"The long battle over a proposed Indian casino in eastern Allegan County is essentially over. Opponents have exhausted their legal appeals, and the Interior Department has taken 147 acres at U.S. 131 and 129th Street...

Editorial: Tohono O'odham casino a good bet (02/02)

"The most heartening economic news to come out of Arizona this week might be that the Tohono O'odham Nation intends to build a huge casino-hotel near Glendale. The project would be the largest in...

Opinion: Special interest threatens Indian gaming (02/02)

"The Department of Indian Affairs in Washington presented Gov. Charlie Crist, late last year, with the following ultimatum: Either enter into a compact with the Seminole Tribe, or the federal government will level the playing...

Editorial: Town leader flees after casino flop (01/29)

"What is Adam Bond’s problem? The now former Middleboro selectmen chairman who has long had a thin skin and a “my way or the highway” attitude took his ball and went home at Monday’s meeting,...

Editorial: Indian gaming not a sure bet in California (01/27)

"Deals that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger negotiated with Indian gambling tribes have not produced the huge increases in revenue the governor predicted. Indian gambling will bring $362 million into the state general fund this year, $123...

Editorial: Bad bets for Catskills casinos in New York (01/27)

"Wow. Talk about playing long shots. Talk about dreaming dangerously. The push to bring gambling to the Catskills is on anew, with three state legislators from the region and near it showing the go-for-broke sort...

Editorial: Health before money at tribal casinos (01/26)

"Cigarette smoke and alcohol: Two thorny issues for the state and the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan tribes, owners and operators of the state’s two casinos — and this region’s largest employers. The casinos are exempt...

Rumsey Chair: Disagreement about casino deal (01/26)

"I was intrigued by Yolo County Supervisor Matt Rexroad's guest opinion last Sunday in The Daily Democrat regarding the impasse between the Rumsey Band of Wintun Indians and Yolo County over our planned transformation...

Column: GOP hypocrisy in Seminole gaming fight (01/26)

"Charlie Crist had it right when he inked a deal with the Seminoles to cut taxpayers in on the tribe's gambling profits. The casinos, after all, were already here, separating millions of willing gamblers from...

Column: Minnesota law firm wins casino lawsuit (01/23)

"A federal appellate court panel awarded a legal victory to Dorsey & Whitney in a complicated and long-running conflict-of-interest case brought by a bankruptcy court trustee and 30 banks concerning a collapsed gambling-casino deal....

Column: Seminole gaming booty very tempting (01/23)

"Somewhere in a netherworld between legal and illegal, they're playing blackjack. The Seminoles are dealing, and throngs of players are clamoring to play card games approved by the National Indian Gaming Commission, declared illegal by...

Letter: No deal for Mashpee Wampanoag casino (01/22)

"I have a suggestion for the Middleboro Board of Selectmen and residents who voted for the “proposed” Mashpee Wampanoag casino – stop drinking the Kool-Aid in ’09! At the July 2007 Town Meeting, the Finance...

Editorial: Reopen Tigua Tribe's casino in tough times (01/19)

"Restoring gaming at El Paso's Speaking Rock Casino may be one of our state delegation's most achievable goals this year. Tough economic times, such as these, call for finding revenue sources to help fill the...

Rumsey Band Chair: County wages war on tribe (01/15)

" It is unsettling that The Bee editorialized on the complex negotiations between the Rumsey Band of Wintun Indians and Yolo County over our planned Cache Creek Destination Resort project without ever contacting the...

Nottawaseppi Huron Band to hire 1,500 for casino (01/15)

The Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi Indians plans to hire 1,500 people for its casino in Michigan. Starting January 22, the FireKeepers Casino will accept applications for full- and part-time positions. All types of jobs...

Editorial: 'Careless' compact with Seminole Tribe (01/14)

"The Florida Legislature concludes this week its special session called to balance the state budget, wisely rejecting new gambling revenue as a means of closing the 2008-2009 budget deficit. Nevertheless, citizens concerned about the detrimental...

Editorial: Mohegan pay cuts better than job cuts (01/13)

"The week's announcement that Mohegan Sun is cutting the salaries of all 9,800 of its employees effective Feb. 1 is indicative of how bad things are. But it is better than eliminating jobs. We live...

Column: Poarch Creek casino will worsen problems (01/13)

"Tuesday’s opening of the Wind Creek Casino and Hotel has generated excitement throughout town and the greater Gulf Coast region. Area citizens are amazed that such an establishment has been constructed in Atmore. Like...

Editorial: Poarch Band slides down slippery slope (01/12)

"The Poarch Creeks' new casino, which opened Tuesday in Atmore, offers patrons more than 1,600 gambling machines with names like "Wheel of Fortune," "Double Diamond" and "Triple Lucky 7's." If they sound familiar, it's probably...

Editorial: Debating Seminole gaming in Florida (01/12)

"Should the state of Florida approve Vegas-style slots, blackjack and other house-banked card games that the Seminole Tribe began offering in November at its casinos in Tampa and Immokalee? For the purpose of public discussion,...

Editorial: St. Regis Mohawk casino a godsend (01/09)

"The Akwesasne Mohawk Casino is preparing to celebrate its 10th anniversary this year after opening in April 1999. Since 2003, the combined contributions from the gaming enterprises total $49.1 million. Some people disdain gambling as...

Editorial: Mohegan Tribe not blowing smoke with plan (01/09)

"Workers at Foxwoods Resort Casino have a legitimate beef about the second-hand smoke they breathe at work, but their Tuesday assault on Gov. M. Jodi Rell and the Mohegan Tribe was off target. They need...

Editorial: Poarch Band marks casino milestone (01/07)

"The Poarch Creek Indians celebrated a huge milestone Tuesday as the tribe opened a new casino facility near Atmore. The venture - which also features a hotel and conference center to open later this month...

Column: Wyandotte Nation going strong in Kansas (01/06)

The 7th Street Casino in downtown Kansas City, Kansas. File Photo © Wyandotte Nation. "During the holidays we stopped by the tribal owned 7th Street Casino in Wyandotte County for a fresh look around...