Indian Gaming > Wyandotte casino in Kansas City told to close

March 26, 2004

Wyandotte casino in Kansas City told to close

The National Indian Gaming Commission has told the Wyandotte Nation of Oklahoma that its out-of-state casino is operating illegally.

The tribe opened the facility in downtown Kansas City, Kansas, last fall and began offering Class II machines owned by Multimedia Games. The casino is located on land taken into trust after 1988.

For that reason, NIGC acting general counsel Penny Coleman said it was not suitable for gaming. In a 24-page decision, she said the tribe did not satisfy any of the exemptions in the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) for gaming on newly acquired lands.

The tribe has a week from Wednesday to respond to the NIGC opinion. State attorney general Phill Kline, who has sought closure of the facility, declared victory. Four tribes in the state that own casinos also objected to the Wyandotte's gaming.

A copy of the decision can be found at http://www.indianz.com/docs/nigc/wyandotte032304.pdf

Get the Story:
KCK Casino ordered to shut down (The Kansas City Start 3/26)
Wyandotte tribe's casino barred (The Daily Oklahoman 3/26)
National Indian Gaming Commission decides to shut down tribe's casino (AP 3/25)
Indian Gaming Commission: KCK Casino Can't Legally Operate (KMBC-TV 3/25)
Agency rules against Wyandotte 7th Street Casino (The Kansas City Business Journal 3/25)