Off-reservation Miss Choctaw casino far away

Tuesday, May 30, 2006  

The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians wants to open an off-reservation casino but it could take years before the proposal becomes a reality.

One of the tribe's biggest hurdles is the lengthy land-into-trust process. The tribe has to follow the two-part determination process in Section 20 of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. Since 1988, only three tribes have opened casinos using this process.

Even if the tribe finalizes that part, the tribe faced another hurdle: local support for the casino. Chief Phillip Martin asked Jackson County to schedule a nonbinding vote in 2008, a prelude to the approval the state governor must give for the off-reservation casino.

The proposed casino site is in Ocean Springs, more than 200 miles from the reservation. The tribe already has 40 acres in trust there, according to a spokesperson. The tribe owns an additional 100 acres off Interstate 10.

Get the Story:
Choctaw casino faces hurdles for approval (The Mississippi Press 5/28)