Indian Gaming > Minnesota governor blasted for off-reservation casino

April 11, 2005

Minnesota governor blasted for off-reservation casino

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) continues to receive criticism for his proposal to open an off-reservation casino in the Twin Cities in partnership with three tribes.

The Prairie Island Indian Community began running television ads questioning Pawlenty. The tribe, which owns a successful Twin Cities-area casino, says the governor said he opposed the expansion of gaming as far back as 2003 but then threatened to allow non-Indian gaming if the tribes refused to share $300 million in casino revenues.

When that fell through, he proposed the off-reservation casino, an idea that has been called illegal by the state attorney general. But a lawyer for the Red Lake, White Earth and Leech Lake bands of Ojibwe says the plan can be approved without changing the state constitution.

Pawlenty is also being criticized by his Republican predecessor, Arne Carlson. He said gambling has "horrendous social costs" that will outweigh the benefits.

Pawlenty's deal has seen some opposition among state lawmakers, who must approve it. He may seek to combine the state-tribal casino with a racino, according to The St. Paul Pioneer Press.

Get the Story:
New ad raps joint casino proposal (AP 4/9)
Indians' lawyer says metro casino would be legal (The Minneapoils Star Tribune 4/9)
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Arne Carlson scolds Pawlenty for pitching state-operated casino (The Minneapoils Star Tribune 4/9)