The Bureau of Indian Affairs approved land-into-trust applications for three Osage Nation gaming sites.
The BIA published notice of the applications in the Federal Register on July 19. After a 30-day comment period, the sites were placed in trust this week.
"At this moment, we have tremendous peace of mind," Neil Cornelius, the CEO of Osage Casinos, told The Tulsa World. "We've completely eliminated that fear."
The tribe has been operating the gaming facilities on land within its former reservation. However, the sites weren't held in trust, raising questions about their legality.
The National Indian Gaming Commission issued an opinion that said land within the former reservation could be used for gaming.
But the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled last year that the reservation was diminished by an act of Congress, prompting the tribe to submit the land-into-trust applications.
The gaming facilities are located in Tulsa, Skiatook and Ponca City.
The BIA said it was acquiring the land "under the authority of the Indian
Reorganization Act of 1934."
Get the Story:Sites of 3 Osage Casinos now in full legal standing (The Tulsa World 8/24) Federal Register Notices:
Land Acquisitions; Osage Nation of Oklahoma (July 19, 2011)
Land Acquisitions; Osage Nation of Oklahoma (July 19, 2011)
Land Acquisitions; Osage Nation of Oklahoma (July 19, 2011)