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The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians tried to open a Class II casino more than 200 miles from its reservation, according to news reports.

The tribe operates a printing plant on 40 acres in Ocean Springs. The land is held in trust but it was not acquired for gaming purposes.

Converting the land to gaming would require the tribe to go through Section 20 of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. The law requires consultation of local and state governments and, in the case of off-reservation casinos, approval from the state governor.

In a September 15, 2005, letter to the Interior Department, Choctaw Chief Phillip Martin asked for permission to operate 1,500 to 2,000 Class II machines immediately without an environmental review. Martin said the facility would lead to a much larger Class III facility on 100 acres the tribe owns next to the printing plant

Associate deputy secretary Jim Cason responded December 21 that the tribe couldn't skip the IGRA process. He said Interior would have to conduct a full environmental assessment and determine whether the land could be used for gaming.

The tribe has since submitted a land-into-trust application for the 100 acres. The site sits next to Interstate 57.

Get the Story:
Letters Indicate Choctaws Lost An Early Gamble In Jackson County (WLOX News 6/3)
Choctaws' casino a no-go minus local consent (The Jackson Clarion-Ledger 6/3)