Indian Gaming > Forest County Potawatomi Tribe has new compact

October 05, 2005

Forest County Potawatomi Tribe has new compact

The Forest County Potawatomi Tribe signed a new gaming compact with Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle (D) on Tuesday.

The 25-year compact requires the tribe to share between 6 percent and 8 percent of revenues with the state. The tribe estimates the payments will total $750 million over 25 years.

The compact requires the state to alleviate any losses the tribe might incur if the Menominee Nation wins approval for a non-reservation casino. "Making a poor tribe make payments to a fairly wealthy tribe is disconcerting," Menominee Chairman Michael Chapman told The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.

The new compact was negotiated because the first one was invalidated by the state Supreme Court, which ruled Doyle didn't have authority to enter into perpetual deals for expanded Class III games. A Republican lawmaker who challenged the original deal said the new one is insufficient because the tribe isn't paying enough to the state.

Get the Story:
Casino deal restarts payments (The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel 10/5)
Doyle, Potawatomi sign 25-year compact (AP 10/5)
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Former aide reflects on public support for compacts (AP 10/5)
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