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JULY 25, 2000

The Mohegan Tribe of Connecticut recently met with a casino development group and the Cayuga Nation of New York and discussed the possibility of the tribe becoming involved in the management of a casino in the New York Catskills, said the Mohegan chief of staff.

The tribe met with Catskills Development Corp, who had intended to open a casino in Monticello, New York with the St. Regis Mohawk. The tribe had received approval, after a three-year-wait, from the Bureau of Affairs and Department of Interior to take the land upon which the casino would be housed into trust.

But the tribe changed gaming partners to Park Place Entertainment, the largest in the world. The quick change prompted a $12B lawsuit filed by tribal members against Park Place and CEO Arthurt Goldberg.

The change has also prompted concerns of whether the casino would ever bear fruit. The tribe would again have to seek federal review, as the parcel of land proposed by Park Place is different from the one already approved by the BIA.

Catskills Development has been courting the Cayuga Nation recently. Some traditional Cayuga oppose gaming.

Goldberg is currently being investigated for illegal lobbying. He called members of the New York state Assembly, urging them to vote against a bill that could have affected his company's casino. The bill was killed in the Assembly.

Get the Story:
Mohegans consulted on N.Y. casino (The New London Day 7/25)

Related Stories:
Gaming bill dropped (Money Matters 06/23)
NY Senate approves gaming bill (Money Matters 06/14)
New York wants say on casinos (Money Matters 6/13)
Mohawk deal crucial for tribe (Money Matters 05/03)

Editorial:
Not All Mohawks Applaud Monticello Casino Plans (Doug George-Kanentiio. The Talking Circle. 4/17)