Compacts

Laguna Pueblo supports Class III casino compact in New Mexico

Thursday, March 5, 2015

The Route 66 Casino at Laguna Pueblo in New Mexico. Photo from Facebook

Laguna Pueblo of New Mexico has dropped opposition to an updated Class III gaming compact.

The tribe opposed prior versions of the compact due to the number of facilities to be operated by the Navajo Nation. Although some concerns remain, Gov. Virgil Siow said the new deal represents an improvement.

"We have consistently supported all of the 2015 tribes in their desire to negotiate a fair and equitable compact with the state of New Mexico," Siow said in a press release that was quoted by CasinoNewsDaily and The Santa Fe New Mexican. "We think this year's proposed compact is better and stronger than the compact we opposed in 2013 and 2014. Except for our obvious concerns, the compact addresses all of the issues that were raised by the tribes in the last two legislative sessions. For those reasons, we are now able to offer our support."

The 2015 deal contains a provision that allows tribes with more than 75,000 citizens in New Mexico to build a new facility within six years. At it stands, only the Navajo Nation meets that condition.

The Navajo Nation operates one Class III facility and two Class II facilities in New Mexico. The tribe hasn't announced any new casinos at this point.

A portion of the Navajo Nation sits next to Laguna Pueblo, which operates three Class III gaming facilities, according to the Laguna Development Corporation.

Get the Story:
Laguna Pueblo Supports the Compact between Tribes and Governor (CasinoNewsDaily 3/5)
Laguna Pueblo, which has opposed Navajo casino plans, backs current compact with governor (The Santa Fe New Mexican 3/5)

An Opinion:
Sherry Robinson: Gaming compact, money scramble can divide tribes (The Carlsbad Current-Argus 3/5)