Indian Gaming > St. Regis Mohawk Tribe to sue over BIA denial

January 10, 2008

St. Regis Mohawk Tribe to sue over BIA denial

The St. Regis Mohawk Tribe of New York plans to sue the Bush administration for rejecting an off-reservation casino.

The tribe wants to build a $600 million casino in the Catskills. But the Bureau of Indian Affairs says the site is too far from the reservation -- more than 300 miles.

The Catskills is an ideal location because it's only about 90 minutes north of New York City. At one point, the state supported five casinos there but the Mohawks were the only ones with a complete application.

The tribe plans to turn the Monticello Gaming and Raceway into a Class III casino. Right now, the raceway offers electronic games but owner Empire Resorts says revenues have dropped 22 percent from a year ago.

Get the Story:
In the Catskills, Wondering if Casinos’ Time Has Passed (The New York Times 1/10)
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