The Shinnecock Nation of New York won't be pursuing a casino on or near its state-recognized reservation, a tribal leader said.

The 800-acre reservation is located at the far eastern end of Long Island. It's also next to the Hamptons, an enclave of wealth where talk of a casino has generated controversy.

"I don't feel the type of facility we're envisioning would be right for eastern Long Island," tribal trustee Fred Bess told the Associated Press.

As a newly recognized tribe, the Shinnecocks would be eligible for an exception in the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. The tribe could look for land elsewhere -- though the Section 20 regulations that were finalized by the Bush administration require a newly recognized tribe to demonstrate connections to a gaming site.

The tribe could face questions under the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Carcieri v. Salazar. The decision limits the land-into-trust process to tribes that were "under federal jurisdiction" in 1934 -- a date that could hurt the Shinnecocks.

"I believe there are provisions set aside for newly recognized tribes that will address this," Bess told the AP of concerns about the decision.

Get the Story:
New York tribe faces many hurdles in bid to open casino (AP 12/18)
Federal government gives preliminary nod to Long Island tribe that may seek to open New York casino with Marian Ilitch (Crains Detroit 12/18)
Shinnecock tribe's recognition in N.Y. may be Ilitch jackpot (The Detroit News 12/18)