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Editorial: Tohono O'odham Nation drops 'rogue casino' on state

Monday, April 20, 2015

Chairman Ned Norris Jr. signed the last steel beam that's part of the initial structure for the West Valley Resort near Glendale, Arizona. Photo from Facebook

Arizona newspaper claims the Tohono O'odham Nation deceived voters even though a federal judge ruled that the Class III gaming compact doesn't bar a new casino in the metro Phoenix area:

The decision by Gov. Doug Ducey to stand athwart the Tohono O'Odham Nation's plan to open a casino near Glendale is gratifying and encouraging.
Someone needed to stand up for the principle of the people's vote in 2002 authorizing tribal gambling compacts.
Those voters, by a narrow margin, approved tribal gaming based on a single, commonly accepted principle: That gaming in the Valley would be limited to no more than seven casinos, operated by the local tribes.
In exchange for a promise to abide by the restrictions of an agreed-upon compact, voters granted the tribes the exclusive right to operate gambling halls in the state. For the local tribes and the communities surrounding them, the net result has turned out as good as or better than anyone could have expected. Now, all that good will is threatened.
Led by chairman Ned Norris, the leaders of the Tohono O'Odham plotted to usurp that principle before the vote was recorded.

Get the Story:
Editorial: A rogue casino? You're going to have to fight for it (The Arizona Republic 4/20)

Also Today:
Arizona To Block Approval For New Tribal Casino Near Glendale (AP 4/17)
Planned Tohono O'odham casino faces new state opposition (Capitol Media Services 4/17)
Tribe could sue Arizona if gaming agency blocks casino near Glendale (The Phoenix Business Journal 4/17)