Texas files response in Indian gaming case
(TEXAS) -- The state of Texas is urging the U.S. Supreme Court against hearing a case that tests a long-contested provision of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. Twenty years after IGRA's passage in 1988, tribes have created a $28 billion industry in their communities.
Casinos' expansions may be ebbing
(CALIFORNIA) -- An era of spectacular growth may be waning for area casinos as a rocky economy convinces more gamblers to stand pat. A maxim that the gambling industry is "recession-proof" now is being questioned following the announcement this week that the Pechanga Resort & Casino, the region's largest casino, would cut 400 employees in coming weeks.
Cache Creek tribe assisting Richmond tribe with financing
(CALIFORNIA) -- After losing Harrah's as its financial backer last year, an American Indian tribe that hopes to build a casino resort complex at the former Point Molate Naval Base has found a new partner - the tribe that runs the popular Cache Creek casino resort in Yolo County.
OP/ED: Crist must keep playing
(FLORIDA) -- The Florida Supreme Court ruled unanimously that the Seminole Tribe of Florida can't conduct high-stakes blackjack and baccarat games at its Hard Rock Casino near Hollywood. Legislative leaders have said that they won't give the tribe permission. Gambling rivals have sued to block the games at Hard Rock.
Feds and Senecas seek to remove casino case from Skretny
(NEW YORK) -- The issue of continued gambling at the Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino got even more complicated today, when both the United States and the Seneca Nation of Indians filed legal papers asking to have the case transferred to the National Indian Gaming Commission.
Casino: Feds, Senecas seek court transfer
(NEW YORK) -- The federal government has filed a motion in U.S. District Court asking that a lawsuit filed by a group led by the Citizens Against Casino Gambling in Erie County be transferred to the National Indian Gaming Commission for further review.
Pechanga to Give 400 Pink Slips
(CALIFORNIA) -- Pechanga Resort & Casino said July 22 that it plans to lay off as many as 400 employees, citing the flagging economy.
Casino law would call for voters' OK
(CALIFORNIA) -- Assemblyman Jared Huffman, an opponent of the Indian casino planned in Rohnert Park, plans to introduce legislation intended to make it tougher for such projects to be built without local approval.
Foxwoods Dealer Unionization Battle Moves Closer to Legal Showdown
(CONNECTICUT) -- The refusal by Connecticut-based Foxwoods Casino operators the Mashantucket Pequot tribe to negotiate with elected labor union representatives for their poker and other table-games dealers has now seen the filing of a formal complaint by the National Labor Relations Board against the tribe.
Tribe renews pact with sheriff
(CALIFORNIA) -- They are just words on a stack of paper. The growing trust, respect and shift in perception of the goings-on at American Indian reservations weren't evident in the ink.
Tribe plans second casino
(ARIZONA) -- The Navajo Nation’s first casino is just now getting off the ground in Churchrock, and a second gaming facility isn’t far behind.
Casino fund wish list is out
(ARIZONA) -- Casa Grande and community organizations are requesting almost a million dollars in grants from Indian-run gambling operations.
U.S. Asks Judge To Allow Feds To Decide On Casino
(NEW YORK) -- The United States filed a motion Wednesday in U.S. Federal District Court asking Judge William H. Skretny to transfer the Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino case to the National Indian Gaming Commission for further consideration.
Thunder Valley expansion kicks off
(CALIFORNIA) -- The landscape between Lincoln and Roseville changed five years ago when Thunder Valley Casino sprung up on Industrial Avenue next to Highway 65. It's about to change some more. A 24-story hotel, a performing arts center and a new parking structure are among new features coming to the casino in the next two years.
Tribal leaders meeting on casino future
(WASHINGTON) -- The Colville Tribal Enterprise Corporation (CTEC) Board of Directors met with the Colville Business Council early this week at tribal headquarters to discuss the plan for the new Omak casino project.
COLUMN: Time to Oil Down
(CALIFORNIA) -- OPEC is drilling a hole through Indian gaming! When costly crude helps pump the life out of the casino biz, when we can no longer count on our Golden State gamblers to support the state treasury in the manner to which the governor promised we'd become accustomed -- it's time for the governor to relinquish his failed role as Debtinator and strap it on as Terminator.
Counties to lobby for land trust reform
(NEW YORK) -- Before the Madison County Supervisors' Native American Affairs Committee went into a closed-door executive session Tuesday, several membesr gave an account of their recent trip to the National Association of Counties Conference in Kansas City, Mo.
Land Of The Rising Sun
(PENNSYLVANIA) -- Outside of Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, there was lots of talk about tribal counsel. Jeff Probst wasn't around and no one was getting voted off the Survivor island
Indian tribes take issue with IRS interpretations
(WASHINGTON, DC) -- Indian tribal governments are urging Congress to enact legislation that would prohibit the IRS from interpreting the tax law in a way that limits the tax-exempt debt that Indian tribes can issue, claiming that such limitations put the tribes at a competitive disadvantage to state and local government, according to a report in public finance newsletter, The Bond Buyer.
Foxwoods lawsuit translates into dispute over sovereignty
(CONNECTICUT) -- A couple of roulette table workers at the Foxwoods Casino in Connecticut took a gamble themselves last September when they bet that a group of nine women playing at their table could not speak Spanish, according to a lawsuit.
Mayor ditches idea of slots at airport
(ARIZONA) -- So much for slot machines at the airport. Facing stiff opposition from Native American tribes, Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon said Tuesday he would abandon the idea of bringing gaming to Sky Harbor International Airport.
Casino Battle Goes Back To Court Next Month
(NEW YORK) -- The battle over whether the Buffalo casino can stay open heads back to court next month. A hearing has been called by U.S. District Judge William Skretny, scheduled for August 21.
STATEMENT: Layoffs at Pechanga Resort & Casino
(CALIFORNIA) -- “For 13 years, the Pechanga Resort & Casino has grown annually to become the second largest employer in Riverside County. We are extremely proud of our talented workforce and we fully credit each and every Team Member with making Pechanga the premier gaming resort in California.
Labor board backs UAW in Foxwoods labor dispute
(CONNECTICUT) -- The National Labor Relations board has issued a complaint against the Mashantucket Pequot tribe for refusing to bargain with the union that represents dealers at the Foxwoods Resort Casino.
Single casino plan detailed
(CALIFORNIA) -- The Los Coyotes Band of Indians have decided to go it alone in pursuing a casino in Barstow. Shane Chapparosa, a spokesman for the tribe, and Tom Shields, a spokesman for developer BarWest, outlined a new plan at Monday’s City Council meeting for one casino in Barstow linked to only one tribe, the Los Coyotes.
Florida high court overturns Seminole compact
(FLORIDA) -- The Florida Supreme Court has issued an opinion that Gov. Charlie Crist exceeded his authority by entering into a gaming contract with the Seminole Tribe that allows the tribe to offer types of gaming that are illegal elsewhere in the state.
Deal aims to keep casinos out of Marin
(CALIFORNIA) -- County supervisors unanimously approved an agreement with the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria Tuesday that they believe will prevent the tribe from building a casino in Marin County.
Job losses - and gains - at Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods
(CONNECTICUT) -- Connecticut's two megacasinos had 300 fewer jobs at the end of June. The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation's Foxwoods Resort Casino laid off 100 employees, mostly managers and some in hourly positions, in the first cutback since the casino opened in 1992.
Mashantucket Pequots to appeal NLRB union certification
(CONNECTICUT) -- The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation has promised to continue its fight for the legal right to exercise tribal sovereignty over gaming at Foxwoods Resort & Casino following the certification of a labor union under federal law rather than tribal law.
OP/ED: Complaints about casino statement put focus on Connecticut tribe’s role
(WASHINGTON) -- Clark County commissioners are shining a spotlight into a corner of the proposed Cowlitz tribal casino controversy that, for the most part, has been in the shadows. In so doing, they add reasons to question, if not doubt, the supposed benefits to tribal members that are so glibly promised by casino proponents.
Pechanga to lay off 400 employees
(CALIFORNIA) -- In another sign of the flagging economy, Pechanga Resort and Casino said yesterday that it plans to lay off more than 8 percent of its work force, or roughly 400 of its nearly 4,800 employees.
LI women sue casino workers over insults in Spanish
(CONNECTICUT) - A couple of roulette table workers at the Foxwoods Casino in Connecticut took a gamble themselves last September when they bet that a group of nine women playing at their table could not speak Spanish, according to a lawsuit.
Construction to begin on Red Lake casino
(MINNESOTA) -- The Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians will soon begin construction on its new $20 million Seven Clans Casino Red Lake, restaurant and hotel about 15 miles from the humanities center where it began a decade ago, planners said.
Pechanga Resort & Casino announces layoffs
(CALIFORNIA) -- Citing economic conditions, Pechanga Resort & Casino in Temecula late-Tuesday announced it will lay off workers. Up to 400 jobs out of 4,700 could be affected.
Pechanga Resort & Casino in Temecula announces layoffs
(CALIFORNIA) -- The Pechanga Resort & Casino in Temecula, one of the largest Indian gaming industry employers in California, announced plans Tuesday to lay off up to 400 of its 4,700 employees, a move that trims its workforce by nearly 9 percent.
Resort & Casino employees dealt layoffs
(CALIFORNIA) -- One of Southwest County's biggest employers began laying off hundreds of its workers this week. Officials at the Pechanga Resort & Casino, located on the reservation along Temecula's southern border, announced Tuesday that a slow economy has resulted in the need to eliminate an estimated 400 employees from its work force of 4,770.
Accord angers Rohnert Park casino foes
(CALIFORNIA) -- An agreement approved Tuesday between Sonoma County supervisors and the Graton Indian tribe indicates the county is parting ways with opponents of the tribe’s Rohnert Park gaming casino.
Grand Traverse Band goes green
(MICHIGAN) -- Go green! That might be the new motto for the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians. The northern Michigan tribe, which opened the doors to its rebuilt Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel in June, has received much fanfare for creating an eco-friendly gaming destination.
BIA stymies tribes with off-rez rule
(WASHINGTON, DC) -- By GT Staff | Indian tribes that want to build casinos away from their reservation will have a more difficult task in the wake of a new rule published by the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs.
Class II gaming decimation is feared in wake of Metlakatla decision
(WASHINGTON, DC) -- On June 4, only six days after receiving a request to review and approve a game-specific amendment to the Metlakatla Indian Community Tribal Gaming Ordinance, National Indian Gaming Commission Chairman Philip N. Hogen disapproved the amendment because the ''one-touch'' game it describes in detail as Class II bingo is actually a ''facsimile'' game of chance, he stated.
Buffalo casino case headed back to court
(NEW YORK) -- U.S. District Court Judge William Skretny has set an Aug. 21 hearing on a motion filed by anti-gaming advocates who want the Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino shut down.
Tribe seeking Point Molate casino resort scores new financing
(CALIFORNIA) -- After losing Harrah's as its financial backer last year, an Indian tribe that hopes to build a casino resort complex at the former Point Molate Naval Base has found a new partner — the tribe that runs the popular Cache Creek casino resort in Yolo County.
County, Graton tribe deal on future growth
(CALIFORNIA) -- Sonoma County supervisors and the Graton Indian tribe proposing a Rohnert Park casino are close to an agreement that will prohibit it from building a second casino and puts any other developments under county planning review.
OP/ED: Gordon's bad bet
(ARIZONA) -- It is good to know that Phoenix's leaders are thinking creatively about balancing their budgets and maintaining levels of service. It is not so good to hear that they are contemplating slot machines at the airport as a means of raising cash.
Council debates Sachem Fund late into the night
(CONNECTICUT) -- The first round of proposed funding under the new Sachem Fund grant program was the center of a heated debate on the City Council floor late Monday, as the council nearly dismantled the previously approved process of having applicants submit grant proposals to a governing committee.
Norwich: Aldermen argue, but pass Sachem Fund requests
(CONNECTICUT) -- Aldermen Jon Jacaruso and Robert Zarnetske bickered during Monday night’s council meeting over how, and if, to approve nearly $613,000 from the Sachem Fund after nearly forcing all applicants to come back and rejustify their requests.
Democrats deny inquiry into Gregoire's gambling pacts
(WASHINGTON) -- Democratic leaders in the House and Senate have rejected Republicans' request for an inquiry into the connection between political contributions and tribal gambling compacts negotiated by Gov. Chris Gregoire.
Casino’s weekend wagers up $12M
(PENNSYLVANIA) -- Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs chief executive Bobby Soper is not letting his guard down after an impressive opening weekend for the new casino with its added slot machines and non-gambling amenities.
BOOBY-PRIZE BID: Foxwoods Casino Sued Over 'Busty' Barbs
(CONNECTICUT) -- A roulette worker at Foxwoods came up the big loser when he bet that nine women gathered around his table - including an NYPD sergeant, FBI special agent and a Long Island cop - couldn't understand the gross comments he was making about them in Spanish.
Huffman warns supervisors about 'illusory' casino deal
(CALIFORNIA) -- A deal that Marin County supervisors have negotiated with the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria regarding casino development in Marin and Sonoma counties is misguided, according to Assemblyman Jared Huffman, D-San Rafael.
Supervisors craft deal to limit tribe's gaming
(CALIFORNIA) -- Marin County supervisors are considering a deal with the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria that would limit the tribe, which is already seeking a casino in Rohnert Park, to one casino in either Marin or Sonoma county.
Decision to affect Cherokee County casino
(KANSAS) -- The decision for a contract for a state-owned casino in Sumner County has taken on additional importance for residents of Cherokee County who are hoping a casino in that county will result in economic benefits.
Smoking in Casino Precious to Both Navajos and Libertarians
(ARIZONA) -- While the Navajo Council prepared to hear expert testimony from the American Cancer Society, the New Mexican Cancer Society, and the Navajo Division of Health, another voice spoke loudly in favor of retaining some smoking privileges.
County Candidates Define Positions
(WASHINGTON) -- How to summarize a two-hour debate between seven candidates with three party affiliations running for one county commissioner's seat, all in 1,100 words?
Casinos' Disputed Games Play On
(FLORIDA) -- The games go on at Seminole casinos as lawyers, lawmakers and tribal officials deliberate the arcane world of gaming law and Indian sovereignty in the wake of a court ruling that voided an agreement between the state and the tribe.
Editorial: Seminoles up the ante in latest 'war'
(FLORIDA) -- The United States won the third and final Seminole War, which ended in 1858. Ah, but the Fourth Seminole War now being fought in Florida? The tribe is winning, and despite the method of warfare, the outcome seems fair.
Poncas think outside box on casino
(NEBRASKA) -- The Ponca Tribe of Nebraska is making grand plans for a proposed casino and hotel in Carter Lake, but it must clear formidable legal and financial hurdles before it can open a fourth casino in Omaha's backyard.
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