The Bay Mills Indian Community opened an off-reservation casino in Vanderbilt, Michigan, on Wednesday but other tribes aren't happy about it.

In a joint statement, the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, the Gun Lake Tribe of Pottawatomi Indians, the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi Indians and the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe condemned the casino as "illegal." They said the Bay Mills Indian Community violated the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act and the Class III gaming compact.

:This attempt to conduct Indian gaming in the absence of trust land is a serious violation of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act and long-held federal Indian gaming policy," the tribes said in the statement. “Bay Mills has also violated the state gaming compacts, most notably Section 9 which clearly requires the consent of all Michigan tribes to pursue gaming on non-reservation lands."

The Bay Mills Indian Community recently acquired 45 acres of ancestral land. The tribe is reportedly claiming the site qualifies for gaming under the land claim exception of IGRA.

"This is something we've been working on for a long time," BMIC Chairman Jeff Parker said in a press release.

The other tribes are calling on the state of Michigan and the federal government to work together and close the Bay Mills facility.

Get the Story:
Casino opens in Vanderbilt (KLUC-TV 11/3)
Casino Opens Doors in Otsego County (9 and 10 News 11/3)
Tribes speak out against new casino in Vanderbilt (The Petoskey News-Review 11/4)

Related Stories:
Bay Mills Indian Community opens off-reservation casino after all (11/3)
Bay Mills Indian Community rejects speculation over casino bid (10/25)