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Editorial: Show the cards for off-reservation casino in Catskills (12/20)

"If that casino that the Stockbridge-Munsee Indian tribe wants to build in the Catskills indeed becomes a reality, the cards will, of course, come mostly face down in its games of chance. Whether the hand...

Column: Bay Mills isn't asking for permission to operate casino (12/20)

"The Chippewa of Bay Mills, an Upper Peninsula tribe, has been trying since 1993 to open a casino in Port Huron. In August 2002, Gov. John Engler gave the tribe his blessing. In November 2007,...

Harold Monteau: Spokane Tribe deserves off-reservation casino (12/20)

"The Spokane Tribe of Indians should have its Spokane, Wash. area lands approved for purposes of Indian gaming. They deserve to be treated no differently than the Kalispel Tribe has been treated and, in fact,...

Column: Bay Mills Indian Community deserves shot at a casino (12/17)

"Wouldn't you know it? Call it coincidence, but after being out of the public's eye for a couple of years, the Bay Mills Indian Community and its nemesis, would-be casino developer Tony DeFeo, are back...

Opinion: Off-reservation casino will revitalize Catskills economy (12/16)

"What are they afraid of? That is what one seriously has to wonder judging from all the outlandish criticism Governor David Paterson is getting since he signed a land settlement claim with the Stockbridge Munsee’s....

Editorial: Negotiate new 'ground rules' for Michigan tribal casinos (12/15)

"The latest tribal casino imbroglio illustrates what a tangled web government weaves when it attempts to determine who will be winners and losers in the marketplace. Five tribes want Michigan to crack down on a...

Editorial: Internet gambling won't resolve America's fiscal woes (12/13)

"Legalized gaming is not and never will be America's fiscal savior. As if it's not nauseating enough that states are stampeding to the legalized gambling buffet as a way to feed their own spending frenzies,...

Editorial: Market dictates success of Mississippi Choctaw casino (12/13)

"The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians is set to open its new Bok Homa casino on Dec. 20 near Sandersville in Jones County. The controversial casino - dubbed by vocal opponent Gov. Haley Barbour as...

Guidiville Chair: Efforts to restrict off-reservation gaming unfair (12/13)

"Sens. Feinstein and Harry Reid, D-Nev., have been actively intimidating Department of Interior staff to stall tribal applications regardless of the law. Unable to force the administration to reject legitimate tribal claims, the senators now...

Editorial: Bay Mills off-reservation casino sets a bad precedent (12/10)

"In a move that stretches the idea of tribal landholdings beyond recognition, the Bay Mills Indian Community has put 38 slot machines in a building in Vanderbilt. The tribe intends to double the number of...

Racetrack Lawyer: Tribal gaming is under-regulated, under-taxed (12/07)

"Interestingly, there is one form of gambling so under-regulated and so under-taxed that it has become, well... something of a monopoly in the industry. In the 1976 United States Supreme Court case titled Bryan v....

Editorial: Congress should stop 'reservation shopping' for casinos (12/07)

"Thankfully, plans for a massive Indian-run casino on the beautiful Point Molate shoreline of Richmond appear destined for a long-overdue burial. Now, it's time for Congress to get behind U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein's proposal to...

Opinion: Plenty of room in New Mexico for off-reservation casino (12/06)

"Earlier this year, the Department of Interior decided to take a second look at the Pueblo of Jemez proposal to build a casino in Anthony, N.M. As the leaders of the communities directly affected by...

Column: Sen. Feinstein wants to halt expansion of tribal gaming (12/03)

"Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., has proposed changes in federal law that would make it harder for Indian tribes without land to open casinos. The changes proposed by Feinstein, California’s senior senator, would make it tougher...

Opinion: Deal for Catskills off-reservation casino going nowhere (12/03)

"Gov. David Paterson recently revealed a land claim "settlement" with the Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohican Indians. And yes, this is the same governor who thought that the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) had won...

Editorial: Mississippi Choctaw casino will bring boost to economy (12/02)

"Despite opposition from some in Jones County, the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians is moving ahead with plans to open the Bok Homa Casino near Sandersville. Instead of complaining about the opening of the casino,...

Editorial: New York governor hides deal for off-reservation casino (12/01)

"Gov. Paterson refuses to make public the legal compact he signed with a Wisconsin-based Indian tribe to open a new full-scale Catskills casino. Why? Paterson counsel Peter Kiernan claims the compact is a work...

Editorial: Mississippi Choctaws stood up for their rights to casino (12/01)

"The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians chose to quietly ignore the protests, the legal challenges and the political theater and proceed with construction of the facility after reviewing what they believe is their sovereign right...

Turtle Talk: Supreme Court takes up petition in compact dispute (11/30)

"On December 10, 2010, the Supreme Court likely will decide whether to review the Ninth Circuit’s decision that the State of California failed to negotiate in good faith with the Rincon Band. This particular petition...

Dianne Feinstein: Put a stop to reservation shopping for casinos (11/30)

"California voters settled the question of casino gaming back in 2000 -- or so it seemed. Proposition 1A authorized the governor to negotiate gambling pacts that would make Nevada-style casinos possible for "federally recognized Indian...

Opinion: A bad bet on the off-reservation casino in the Catskills (11/29)

"About the best thing that can be said for Governor Paterson's surprise announcement of a $700 million casino deal in the Catskills with the Stockbridge-Munsee Mohicans is that the chances of it materializing are...

Editorial: Cheering for Bay Mills off-reservation casino proposal (11/29)

"With little to lose and much to gain, the Bay Mills Indian Community has opened a mini-casino in Vanderbilt, a village on Interstate 75 north of Gaylord, without federal or state approval. If the play...

Column: Developer confident on Bay Mills off-reservation casino (11/22)

"As I wrote a week ago, Bay Mills chairman Jeff Parker and Mike Malik, a casino developer from Detroit, are confident their 17-year effort to open a Port Huron facility will succeed this time around....

Editorial: A bad deal for an off-reservation casino in the Catskills (11/22)

"Gov. David Paterson of New York has only a few weeks left in office. But that hasn’t stopped him from making a bad deal with an out-of-state Indian tribe to build a casino in the...

Editorial: No dice for the off-reservation casino in the Catkskills (11/19)

"David Paterson long ago torched his quota of public trust, so it's more than a little bizarre for him to expect New Yorkers to take at face value the latest dubious gambling scheme to emerge...

Editorial: Casinos haven't lifted tribes in Oregon out of poverty (11/18)

"The U.S. Census shows Native American poverty rates in Oregon skyrocketing in recent years, from 22 percent in 1999 to 31 percent from 2006 to 2008, the most recent years for which data is available....

Editorial: Reject Jemez Pueblo's plan for off-reservation casino (11/18)

"Granting the Jemez Pueblo Indian Tribe a license to open a casino in Anthony, N.M. would go against what Indian gaming should be about - jobs for the tribe. Once again the proposal to open...

NRDC Blog: Off-reservation casino not so great for the Catskills (11/18)

"In a surprise announcement yesterday, Governor Paterson said he is poised to make a deal with the Stockbridge-Munsee Tribe of Wisconsin that would allow them to build a gargantuan casino complex directly along a one-mile...

Column: Bay Mills still confident of casino success after 17 years (11/15)

"Bay Mills hopes to generate a few thousand more jobs in Port Huron, where it has been trying for 17 years to open a casino. Earlier this month, the tribe exercised a long-held option to...

Opinion: Voters made the right call on Guidiville Band casino bid (11/15)

"On behalf of the children of the city of Richmond, I want to thank the voters for their resounding defeat of Measure U. The greater community of Richmond can do better than to place its...

Opinion: Let the public decide the fate of Guidiville Band's casino (11/12)

"While the 2010 election was seen as a setback by some, for Richmond it marked a tidal shift in a seven-year battle to protect Point Molate, the last large undeveloped headland on the bay, long...

Opinion: It's time to let tribes join in on the casino game in Maine (11/12)

"If the new Republican majority in Augusta is looking to leave its mark, it would do well to figure out what Maine should do about casino gambling. The situation, after the apparent approval of Maine’s...

Talk Back: Residents not keen on Bay Mills off-reservation casino (11/10)

"Could Port Huron become a gambling town? Two out of three callers think that would be a losing proposition. Talk to me: J. from St. Clair County: "I see Bay Mills bought land that possibly...

Opinion: Tribes in Minnesota spend big to keep gaming exclusivity (11/09)

"Minnesota tribes’ contributions to their friends are eye-popping. The contributions have favored, nearly exclusively, the Democratic-Farmer-Laborparty. Why is that not surprising? Fact: American Indians who run the five largest casinos in Minnesota — two in...

Letter: Mississippi Choctaws generating jobs with gaming facility (11/08)

"The Bok Homa casino seems to be causing a lot of problems for the residents in and near Sandersville. The problem that I have with this is that the casino has not opened yet. In...

Editorial: Poarch Creeks and gaming interests spend big for 2010 (11/05)

"During the 2010 campaign season, gambling interests spent $5.6 million on candidates. They, and other big special interests, routinely give campaign money to gain access to and influence elected officials. And maybe, gambling interests wanted...

Ray Cook: St. Regis Mohawk Tribe is target of New York shakedown (11/04)

"The press reported that the Mohawk tribe had ceased sending New York state their 22 percent share of our gaming (slot machine) revenue because the state had knowingly and willingly failed to uphold the "exclusivity...

Editorial: Reach compromise on Graton Rancheria's casino project (11/03)

"An area of land behind Home Depot has the potential to become a hub of job opportunties, nightlife and visitor attractions. The Federated Indians of Greaton Rancheria has successfully moved the jurisdiction of this land...

Blog: Paper retracts Opinion linking Sen. Boxer to Graton casino (11/01)

"In 2006, Democrats successfully won back control of Congress by highlighting corruption scandals involving Jack Abramoff, a lobbyist specializing in Indian tribes. But does one Democrat in particular have a problem of her own with...

Editorial: Next governor of California can't ignore tribal gaming (11/01)

"Democrat Jerry Brown and Republican Meg Whitman haven't said much publicly a growing industry that generates $7 billion-plus annually. But soon after taking the oath of office, the next governor will have to deal with...

Opinion: Non-Indian casino creates jobs and revenue in Oregon (11/01)

"Measure 75 is an economic development project that will create thousands of jobs and generate money for schools. The state is already dependent on gaming to fund services, but the Lottery run by the state...

Editorial: Vote no on advisory measure for Guidiville casino bid (10/28)

"For seven years, the hard-luck city of Richmond has toyed with a bayside casino to ease its 18 percent jobless rate and persistent poverty. On Tuesday, voters will have their say on whether a $1...

Editorial: California tribes take a gamble on political candidates (10/26)

"For all their palaver about jobs, Democrat Jerry Brown and Republican Meg Whitman ignore public talk about a growing industry that generates $7 billion-plus annually. Soon after taking the oath of office, however, the next...

Editorial: Keep lawmaker away from off-reservation casino suit (10/25)

"There are a lot of people with a real stake in the Interior Department's decision to approve new tribal trust land in the middle of Glendale, which opens the door to a huge, new casino-resort...

Editorial: Navajo Nation rolling the dice with plans for casinos (10/19)

"The casino industry is a growing one in the Farmington area, and while it no doubt promises to usher in more exciting fun and entertainment for patrons, it is important that social issues and financial...

Opinion: Business community supports Guidiville Band casino (10/18)

"At the request of the city, the Guidiville Tribe and Upstream-Point Molate assembled the $1 billion Point Molate Destination Resort project, consistent with the economic development goals of the Dellums legislation that conveyed the land...

Editorial: Don't lower the gambling age at Little Traverse casino (10/15)

"Members of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians are exploring the idea of lowering the casino gambling age from 21 down to 19. This is a plan which could bring more troubles than...

Prairie Island President: Non-Indian gaming will hurt Minnesota (10/14)

"Minnesota's 2010 election campaign has been all about improving the economy, creating jobs and solving the state's $6 billion budget shortfall. With that focus, it is surprising that so many gubernatorial and legislative candidates have...

Column: The governor's race and gambling in Massachusetts (10/12)

"They are fierce rivals in the quest for the governor's office. But Deval Patrick, Tim Cahill and Charlie Baker can agree on one thing: Casino gambling should be legal here. How we get to that...

Gila River Governor: Casino suit about respect and principles (10/11)

"There's no literal translation in English that does justice to the tribal word himdag. As Governor of the Gila River Indian Community, himdag guides my every decision, my every action. Himdag, as passed down by...

Editorial: Seneca Nation in another showdown with New York (10/11)

"New York State Governor David Paterson again finds himself in a battle with the Seneca Nation, a Native American group that enjoys special treaty rights and considers itself separate from the state. The latest issue...

Editorial: Reject non-Indian gaming in Oregon this November (10/11)

"Whether you gamble or not, most people would agree Oregon's Indian tribes provide the state with plenty of slot machines and blackjack tables. We don't need non-tribal casinos too. A measure on the Nov. 2...

Column: Graton Rancheria casino affects Sen. Boxer's record (10/11)

"In the national battleground that is California's U.S. Senate race, weighty issues dominate, like jobs, economic dislocation and California's future, and rightly so. But sometimes, a politician's seemingly minor actions taken long ago end up...

Letter: Responding to article about Habematolel Pomo compact (10/07)

"Your story on the Department of the Interior's disapproval of the Upper Lake Rancheria's Class III gaming compact contains a couple of factual errors. Specifically the article states as follows: “The Interior secretary previously signed...

Law Article: Say goodbye to simple financing for Indian gaming (10/07)

"The federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act became law in October 1988, and a movie entitled “Field of Dreams” was released six months later. The former established the foundation for what has become a monster gaming...

Editorial: Graton Rancheria casino plan takes toll on public trust (10/06)

"Sonoma County may never know the full story of how a Las Vegas-style casino ended up being proposed near Rohnert Park. Given the bankruptcy of Station Casinos, the backers of the proposal, we may not...

Opinion: Some praise for Phil Hogen for his tenure at the NIGC (10/05)

"Forgive me, if you will, for tossing some praise out for Phil Hogen, an honest and honorable man who in stepping down after seven years of stewardship as head of the National Indian Gaming Commission...

Editorial: Pull the plug on Mashantucket casino in Philadelphia (10/05)

"How many more rolls of the dice is the state going to give the long-stalled Foxwoods Casino project? It has been four years since the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board awarded a license to Foxwoods. At...

Opinion: Tribes in Wisconsin should adopt smoke-free policies (10/04)

"The Lac Court Oreilles, or LCO, Casino in Hayward does not have the worst quality of air I’ve ever drawn into my lungs. That distinction would have to go to the ’Bama Barn, a roadhouse...

Opinion: Internet gaming poses huge threat to Nevada casinos (10/04)

"I was surprised to learn that Congress is considering a bill that would legalize gambling on Internet poker. I think it's a terrible idea, and I'll tell you why. As a former gaming regulator during...

Editorial: Video lottery casinos growing eyesore in South Dakota (09/28)

"The proliferation of video lottery casinos is a growing eyesore in Rapid City. City leaders want to do something about it with a welcome plan to ban such establishments within a 100-foot radius of residential...

Editorial: Tribes, off-reservation casinos and urban communities (09/27)

"The two separate lawsuits filed against the federal government over the creation of tribal trust land - and, as a result, a substantial tribal casino-resort - near Glendale involve a lot of arcane arguments steeped...

Editorial: Candidate for governor in Minnesota eyes state casino (09/27)

"If Tom Emmer loses the race for Minnesota governor, a Herald editorial suggested a few days ago, it will be because the Republican candidate steadfastly refuses to outline his budget proposal in detail. Here’s a...

Column: Court rules in California's never-ending compact lawsuit (09/27)

"Leave it to a federal appeals court to cut through the hoo-ha surrounding Indian gaming in California. Last month, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco issued a ruling in the ongoing...

Opinion: Gaming acceptable for everyone in Maine besides tribes (09/27)

"What do mobsters, prostitutes, pimps, loan sharks, drug dealers, drug addicts, alcoholics, thieves and gambling addicts all have in common? You can always find representatives of each of these groups at a casino. I am...

Letter: Poarch Creeks offer illegal gaming machines in Alabama (09/23)

"I do not understand why there has been no court system in the state of Alabama to redeem or rule the electronic bingo machines recovered or reviewed as illegal? I was reading an older article...

Opinion: Michigan governor capitulates to tribal casino industry (09/23)

"The Granholm administration has embraced tribal gaming in the state, even to the extent of amending an existing contract to allow the Manistee tribe to open an off-reservation site on what was once the Muskegon...

Opinion: South Dakota should work for an off-reservation casino (09/21)

"It is beyond my comprehension why South Dakota's business and political leaders have failed to move on permitting the South Dakota Indian tribes to build a unified casino in South Dakota. Some of this lethargy...

Editorial: Guidiville Band casino the wrong idea for the Bay Area (09/21)

"For most communities, their economies and identities are the result of geography and historical factors that evolved over time. Along the way there are key decision points, where the leaders of a city or county...

Rincon Leader: Schwarzenegger among worst offenders of IGRA (09/13)

"In 1988, when Congress passed the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act two United States senators, John McCain and Daniel Inouye, with prominent Congressman Morris Udall, promised in separate statements in the Congressional Record that if states...

Editorial: Wyandotte Nation not connected to Kansas casino site (09/13)

"Sumner County voters said they wanted casino gambling, making the withdrawn plans and endless approval process frustrating. Sedgwick County voters said they didn’t want casino gambling, making the prospect of a tribal casino now beyond...

Editorial: Eastern Cherokees have bright future with casino venue (09/09)

"Harrah’s Cherokee Casino unveiled its latest edition – a 3,000-plus seat Event Center – on Friday night, and the future of live entertainment in western North Carolina is a bright one. The new facility is...

Opinion: Board distributes $1.9M from Nottawaseppi Huron casino (09/06)

"As Calhoun County's representative on the Firekeepers Local Revenue Sharing Board (FLRSB) I am happy to announce that the FLRSB has completed its work relative to the 2010 distribution of the initial payment of $1.9...

Opinion: Indian gaming changed everything in labor law equation (09/06)

"Indian gaming changed everything in the labor law equation. In San Manuel Indian Bingo and Casino (2004), and later affirmed in San Manuel Indian Bingo and Casino v. NLRB (D.C. Cir. 2007), the NLRB exercised...

Opinion: State politicians should back Mississippi Choctaw casino (09/02)

"In June, the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians (MBCI) announced plans to build a new casino in Sandersville in Jones County. The 27,000-square-foot casino, which is expected to cost $18 million to build, will boast...

Editorial: Little River Band off-reservation casino is about the jobs (08/31)

"What part of economic development don’t Michigan legislators understand? The unsuccessful attempt last week to discharge a resolution from committee concerning a tribal casino proposed for Muskegon, proves lawmakers have a better understanding of politics...

Editorial: Umatilla Tribes take brave step with expansion of casino (08/30)

"The state and national economy remains depressing. Folks are rightfully concerned about getting or keeping a job, and making ends meet as wages remain stagnant and prices rise. Many are fearful of what looms...

Column: Arizona man seeks Oprah's help in shutting down the BIA (08/26)

"Harold Lee, a former Maricopa County Justice of the Peace who has been at the center of several off-the-reservation poker rooms that have opened across Arizona the past few years, was one of three people...

Letter: Mississippi Choctaws break compact with new casino bid (08/26)

"Mexico and Canada are both sovereign nations that share borders with the United States. If either were to propose a nuclear waste dump on our border or started training terrorists, our government would not just...

Editorial: Bad news for the Northwest on off-reservation casinos (08/23)

"No news is good news when it comes to casino development, you say? Perhaps, if you’re talking about the mega-casino proposed by the Cowlitz Tribe for the Interstate 5 interchange near La Center. For months...

Opinion: Questioning the sovereignty behind tribes and casinos (08/23)

"The recent piece by Tim Korte of The Associated Press, entitled "New Mexico casino lawsuit calls tribal sovereignty into question," may be news to New Mexicans but it is old news for many of us...

Editorial: The good and bad in proposed Tohono O'odham casino (08/23)

"Glendale decided long ago the huge public investment in its sports and entertainment district was a risk worth taking. The debt, the doubts, the detractors are all worth it, in the city's view. It's not...

Editorial: Get over it, Mashpee Wampanoag casino deal is dead (08/20)

"Middleboro officials say they are mystified why the Mashpee Wampanoag Indians would want all the records from the broken deal that would have placed a $1 billion casino complex in town. But it really shouldn’t...

Editorial: Go slow on Spokane Tribe off-reservation casino plans (08/19)

"The money must be difficult to resist, but a long-term outlook ought to be adopted before tribal gambling is expanded on the West Plains. On Tuesday, the Spokane County commission voted to not oppose the...

Opinion: An editorial battle over Tohono O'odham casino project (08/16)

"One clever fellow, a well-paid lawyer for the Tohono O'odham Nation in southern Arizona, recently guessed - correctly - that I had authored a Republic editorial that criticized the tribe's plan to build a new...

Opinion: Buena Vista casino will only bring more social problems (08/16)

"There is ample evidence that the jobs produced by a casino do not outweigh the social costs casinos create. A recent article published in the Woodland Daily Democrat newspaper outlined the problems created by the...

Analysis: Tribes tested by lengthy and political gaming process (08/13)

"The "land into trust" concept for approving tribal acquisition of off-reservation acreage for various purposes – including gaming – has proven to be so unnerving and time-consuming that it is clearly difficult for non-tribal members...

Pechanga Chair: Tribe honors commitments with gaming deals (08/10)

"Tuesday night, the Temecula City Council can decide to continue down a litigious path of conflict and dissipate what remains of any good will between Pechanga and the city. Or, it can honor both the...

Editorial: Pokagon Band can look beyond gaming for development (08/09)

"It's good news that the Pokagon Band of the Potawatomi Indians has prospered to the extent that it is proposing a new venture in Hartford, Mich. The Four Winds Casino which opened in New Buffalo...

Alabama Governor: Ridding the state of 'illegal' gaming machines (08/09)

"Slot machines are illegal in Alabama. Not even supporters of gambling dispute what Alabama law says about slot machines. Nonetheless, thousands of them crept into our state under the phony label of "charity bingo" while...

Column: Desperate politicians turn to gaming despite hidden costs (08/09)

"Call them desperate politicians. The House Financial Services Committee approved a bill last month to legalize online poker and other nonsports betting. Taxes on the winnings of gamblers and the profits of site operators might...

Law Article: The Americans with Disabilities Act and tribal casinos (08/09)

"Question: Does the Americans with Disability Act apply to an Indian casino? Are there any other federal laws or regulations that do or do not apply to Indian casinos? Answer: The applicability of the Americans...

Opinion: Not every tribe has cashed in on Indian gaming industry (08/09)

"Indian casinos have been crucial to improving the quality of life for some tribes, supplying not only employment for tribal members and non-Indians, but the seed money for other tribal business ventures. Additionally, tribes with...

Editorial: It's time to give up dream of tribal gaming in the Catskills (08/06)

"Gambling, whether from slots, racing or a tribal casino, seems always to be just over the horizon in the Catskills. Yet recent news shows that the horizon for that opportunity is receding, perhaps never to...

Joe Bunch: Oklahoma tribes know how to regulate gaming facilities (08/06)

The following is the opinion of Joe Bunch, the chairman of the gaming commission for the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma. On October 20th, 2006, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled...

Shakopee Chair: Reject expansion of non-Indian gaming industry (08/05)

"For all the same tired arguments people make in favor of expanding gambling in Minnesota in order to place slot machines at the horse racing track, there are still plenty of good reasons against it....

Editorial: State's treatment of Mississippi Choctaws disrespectful (08/05)

"Politicizing the Jones County casino issue as Attorney General Jim Hood did at The Neshoba County Fair on Wednesday by insinuating the governor has declared war on the Choctaws is unfortunate. The Mississippi Band of...

Editorial: Answers needed on gaming legislation in Massachusetts (08/05)

"Power struggles are not uncommon on Beacon Hill, a place where strong-willed, sometimes self-serving politicians throw their weight around on pet projects that too often benefit the powerful few rather than the commonwealth as a...

Editorial: Hypocritical to restrict gaming in Oregon to reservations (08/05)

"Even if the backers of a taxpaying private casino lose in court, Oregon voters will get a rare chance this fall to vote indirectly on an important issue: Should the operation of casinos in the...

Column: Potential casino in South Dakota becomes campaign issue (08/04)

"Now, the two major party candidates for governor this November are chiming in on the casino issue. Scott Heidepriem says if elected, he would form a bipartisan committee to determine the best approach to building...

Editorial: Bingo crackdown leaves state at mercy of Poarch Creeks (08/03)

"Purveyors of electronic bingo in Alabama experienced another setback last week at the state Supreme Court, and it hardly should have come as a surprise. The court obliterated the only thing standing between VictoryLand and...

Editorial: South Dakota shouldn't jump into a war with Iowa casino (08/02)

"We understand the concern among some folks about the newly named Grand Falls Casino Resort that's beginning construction across the border in Larchwood, Iowa. The potential economic loss to Sioux Falls because of area residents...

Editorial: Tohono O'odham Nation mocks voters with bid for casino (08/02)

"About the economic effects of a new tribal-owned mega-casino adjacent to Glendale, we candidly see both good and bad. The resort proposed by the Tohono O'odham Nation at 95th and Northern avenues will hurt some...

Blog: Tribal courts a proper venue to address casino injury claims (07/29)

"Indian casinos punctuate Washington’s landscape. A quick glance into the rearview mirror while driving along any interstate or highway shows a backdrop of brightly lit buildings advertising slots and tables. As tribes built casinos in...

Editorial: Lawsuit on Mississippi Choctaw casino all about politics (07/28)

"Gov. Haley Barbour has announced that he will go to court to seek to block a proposed gaming development by the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians on tribal land in Jones County. Such a lawsuit...

City Leader: Let voters make decision over Guidiville Band casino (07/26)

"The Pt. Molate Casino issue has provoked very passionate and extensive comments on both sides of the issue. After considering carefully the hundreds of very passionate and well-reasoned contacts I have received, I have decided...

Editorial: Law appears to be on side of Mississippi Choctaw casino (07/26)

"Attorney General Jim Hood's office has issued a memorandum that says the state has no "legal cause of action" to block the construction of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indian's casino planned for Jones County....

Column: 'Gaming' group in Connecticut does its lobbying in secret (07/26)

"It calls itself the Connecticut Coalition for Gaming Jobs, and it jumped headlong into New England gambling politics earlier this month, filing a lengthy legal appeal of the pending federal recognition of Long Island's Shinnecock...

Editorial: Help residents get to work at Connecticut tribal casinos (07/19)

"Last year the state spent $350,000 to bus 35-40 workers from Hartford to their jobs at the Eastern Connecticut casinos. That's a lot of money. But if those folks were unemployed and collecting benefits —...

Harold Monteau: Most tribes yet to succeed under Indian gaming (07/15)

"The “Indian Country Heartland” has yet to realize the intended benefits of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act\ (IGRA), and probably never will, due to the circumstance of being located in some of the most isolated...

Letter: Chumash Tribe makes unfair request for alcohol at casino (07/15)

"Your recent editorial, "Equal treatment for Valley businesses," misses the mark, in several significant ways. First, the editorial argues for equal treatment for privileges, but avoids all discussion of equal treatment when it comes to...

Editorial: Stop monkeying with Mechoopda Tribe over casino plan (07/15)

"Our view: When important land-use issues are decided in a federal court in Washington rather than locally, our citizens lose. Drop the lawsuits and start talking. We've heard many governments complain over the years about...

Editorial: Lawmakers in North Carolina close a gaming 'loophole' (07/14)

"A state that runs its own lottery and is home to a Native American tribe that runs a casino can hardly claim the moral high ground when it comes to regulating gambling. But if we...

Editorial: Community supports Little River off-reservation casino (07/14)

"If Friday’s display of support for a proposed tribal casino in Muskegon County can’t move the project forward, nothing can. An amendment to the Little River Band’s casino compact, which would allow the tribe to...

Opinion: Why not take a chance and expand gaming in Florida? (07/13)

"Florida's sagging economy needs a game-changer. Why not roll the dice and legalize land-based casino gambling? It won't be a panacea, but it can pump some revenue into an economy in need of a boost....

Column: Mississippi Choctaw casino bid heads toward litigation (07/12)

"With opposition organizing and expanding in Jones County, the proposed expansion of Choctaw tribal gaming onto the Bogue Homa reservation near Sandersville by the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians continues to draw political heat that...

Editorial: Wisconsin tribes should ax smoking at gaming facilities (07/09)

"Bars and restaurants across Wisconsin are now smoke-free. The state's many American Indian casinos should be, too. The tribes owe it to their employees to provide a healthy work environment. Secondhand smoke is particularly dangerous...

Editorial: No reason to deny expanded liquor at Chumash casino (07/08)

"Valley residents have until the close of business today to voice their opinions — pro and con — about the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians’ application to expand its liquor license at the casino...

Editorial: Shinnecock Nation shouldn't go into gaming industry (07/06)

"Gamblers aren’t the only ones prone to jackpot delusions. Politicians all over see casinos as magic revenue chests that will help them avoid painful spending cuts, escape the trap of no-tax pledges and make budget...

Column: Tribes in Florida mismanaging their gaming revenues (07/06)

"I'm not much of a casino gambler. But I'm betting early reports of how some American Indian tribes are mismanaging or misdirecting their enormous sums of casino money, here in Florida and elsewhere, are just...

Editorial: Kill license for troubled Pequot casino in Pennsylvania (07/06)

"What's keeping the controversial Foxwoods Casino project afloat on the Delaware River waterfront in South Philadelphia? The proposed casino is in a poor location that residents oppose, and doesn't appear to have enough financing or...

Column: Governor threatens Mississippi Choctaws over casino (06/28)

"Now comes the modern day Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians with a plan to build a small casino on tribal property in Jones County near Sandersville. Local opposition has come on several fronts - all...

Opinion: Sioux tribes should push for an off-reservation casino (06/28)

"Instead of all the handwringing that's going on, it's time for the Native American tribes in South Dakota - all of them, not just the one in Flandreau - accompanied by business leaders from the...

Editorial: Mississippi Choctaws go 'low-rent' with casino plan (06/25)

"Haley Barbour is on target with his effort to deter the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians from its planned expansion of casino gaming into Jones County. It’s not just that the residents of Jones County...

Editorial: Casino competition takes toll on Connecticut tribes (06/21)

"Connecticut's two American Indian-operated casinos have known for more than a decade that competition was coming. They talked about it, strategized for it, and even said they'd welcome it. But all that was before what...

Editorial: Limited opportunities force tribes to enter gaming (06/18)

"Becoming a federally recognized tribe is a monumental victory in the eyes of the Shinnecock people. Upon hearing the relief with which some Shinnecock members spoke about the decision, it was difficult not to get...

Gabe Galanda: Calling on all casino managers to Buy Indian! (06/14)

"Tribal Casino Managers: As you know, fueled by a stable $26 billion in annual gross gaming revenues, tribal governmental gaming operations wield hundreds of millions of dollars in Indian purchasing power. You wield the tribes’...

Editorial: Local input needed for Mississippi Choctaw casino (06/14)

"By comparison to the opulent, Las Vegas quality casinos it operates in Neshoba County, the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians appears to be expanding its gaming operations into the Jones County community of Sandersville relatively...

Opinion: Casino gambling a very bad idea in Massachusetts (06/10)

"This hearing of the Senate Ways and Means Committee is to gather public comment on the draft casino gambling legislation proposed by Sen. Stanley Rosenberg, D-Amherst, and Sen. Karen Spilka, D-Framingham. Mr. Chairman, this proposal...

Editorial: Don't delay Little River Band off-reservation casino (06/09)

"Lawmakers need to wrap up the hearing on a request for a tribal casino in Muskegon by moving the resolution to the House floor for a vote. That’s where the resolution should have gone in...

Editorial: Eastern Cherokees put casino revenue to good use (06/09)

"The Cherokee can rightly be proud about their sovereignty, which allowed them to negotiate with the state of North Carolina to build a casino on their reservation. Like Indian tribes nationwide, the Cherokee made a...

Hansen: Woman, casino at odds over $5,000 bingo (06/08)

"She said bingo. They said no go. Does the Meskwaki Bingo Casino Hotel in Tama owe Jacalyn Hartig $5,000? Hartig says yes. General manager Daniel Stromer says no. While several witnesses say you bet, the...

Letter: Little River off-reservation casino good for economy (06/07)

"Once again and for reasons well beyond my level of comprehension, the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians’ casino projected for Fruitport is experiencing resistance. Some I can understand. Other casinos certainly do not want...

Opinion: Taking a huge gamble on gaming in Massachusetts (06/07)

"Wednesday's tortured, tortuous, amateurish quasi-release of the Senate gambling proposal ultimately contained few surprises - regional lines for three facilities, including one tribal, no provisions for slot machines, lots of talk about government oversight. A...

Editorial: Oklahoma tribes share casino revenues with state (06/07)

"The 30 Oklahoma Indian tribes engaged in gaming have contributed more than $107 million to the state treasury this fiscal year — almost twice the amount expected — which is good news for the state,...

Opinion: Potawatomi casino a success despite trail of tears (06/03)

"Located just outside Milwaukee is one of the largest gaming casinos in the Midwest, the Potawatomi Casino owned by the Native American tribe of that same name. The Potawatomi Casino was recently expanded with an...

Editorial: Casino revenue won't rescue Connecticut budget (06/03)

"In the annals of legalized gambling in Connecticut another milestone has been reached. In their 18 years of operation, the slot machines at the Foxwoods Resort Casino have produced $3 billion in revenue for the...

Column: Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe casino a risky gamble (06/03)

"“When it comes to gaming,’’ Governor Deval Patrick warned Tuesday, “take a deep breath, Fall River.’’ It’s too late for that. The first spin of a Massachusetts roulette wheel may be years away, but a...

Opinion: Mississippi Choctaw casino will hurt the community (05/31)

"Today, gaming plays a significant role in Mississippi’s economy. Non-tribal casinos pay roughly 12 percent of their gaming revenue as a tax (an eight percent State tax of $172 million and an additional $141 million...

Column: No state or federal enforcement on Indian gaming (05/28)

"Besides the failure to enact enough effective laws to control and regulate Indian gambling this concluding article discusses the failure of federal, state and local government to take any meaningful steps to curtail the improper...

Harold Monteau: Bankruptcy and defaults in Indian gaming (05/28)

"Tribes should be using the U.S. Bankruptcy Laws as a tool in the case where it is beneficial to the Tribal Government (Tribe), even if it results in a detriment to the lender and even...

Editorial: Playing the odds on Mashpee Wampanoag casino (05/28)

"Perhaps it’s good that Fall River might some day host a casino. Maybe when city leaders can gamble with their own money, they won’t risk the whole city’s well-being. When Mayor Will Flanagan announced his...

Letter: Mississippi Choctaws look out for their communities (05/24)

"[State Auditor] Stacey Pickering has stated on the media the secrecy of the Choctaws regarding the possibility of a casino being built in Jones County as well as how the county provides police and fire...

Column: Tribal gaming creates corruption for governments (05/21)

"As set out in the earlier series, Gov. Davis owed his election to the massive contributions from Indian casinos operating illegally in California at the time and the massive campaign instituted by those tribes, many...

Letter: Mississippi Choctaw casino will hurt local community (05/21)

"I live in Jones County about three miles from the Bogue Homa Reservation. The Indians struggle with the same problems the community does, improving our lives, jobs and a better place for our children to...

Editorial: Mashpee Wampanoag casino far from a done deal (05/19)

"Don't make the mistake of thinking the Fall River casino is a done deal — far from it. Mayor Will Flanagan, the Mashpee Wampanoags and their investors might know what they want, but pesky things...

Editorial: Lower gambling age a very bad idea in Connecticut (05/17)

"Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Chairman Rodney Butler explains that he was just talking off-the-cuff when he told a reporter last week that the state should consider two casino-related revenue enhancers: lowering the legal age for...

Column: Tribal gaming has negative impact on communities (05/13)

"This week I’ll discuss the false nature of these claims and the negative economic impacts on every community that are easily identifiable and those that are more difficult to measure. Lastly, I will discuss the...

Mississippi Choctaw tribal council delays vote on casino bid (05/11)

Leaders of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians delayed a vote on a casino away from the main reservation. The tribal council will meet May 19, instead of May 14. The outcome will dictate whether...

Editorial: City's reputation on the line with Mashpee casino (05/11)

"Last month, the state House of Representatives approved creation of two resort-style casinos in Massachusetts, one of which is thought to be slated for the SouthCoast area. The Mashpee Wampanoag tribe has expressed an interest...

Column: Potawatomi casino boasts slot machine 'league' (05/10)

"At first it sounds like an oxymoron: A slot machine league. No, really. Normally a solitary pastime, the slots are a team sport at Potawatomi Bingo Casino on Monday nights. Four rows of five...

Opinion: Opening door to tribal gaming in Massachusetts (05/10)

"Robert DeLeo wants to bring legalized gambling to Massachusetts. He wants two casinos and slots at four racing tracks, and right now, it looks like he’s going to get his wish. And, potentially, a lot...

Opinion: Shinnecock Nation casino deserves a serious look (05/07)

Ed. Note: Al D’Amato is a former U.S. Senator from New York. "Last week, freshman Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano laid it on the line for county residents. He told us that the county is...

Column: More on the history of Indian gaming in California (05/07)

"As I discussed in last week’s article, Proposition 5 was struck down as unconstitutional by the California Supreme Court in August 1999. Undaunted by that fact, two months later in October 1999, Gov. Davis and...

Rincon Chair: Schwarzenegger flouted Indian gaming law (05/07)

"The federal court finding that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger illegally taxed the Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians doesn't mean that a governor will never get another cent from tribes. Or that tribes expect a free ride...

Editorial: Don't bet on off-reservation casinos in New York (05/03)

"Facing a fiscal crisis immediately after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, state leaders wanted to bank heavily on getting large sums of money from casinos that were going to be operated in the Catskills. That idea...

Editorial: Maine tribes keep an eye on gaming referendum (05/03)

"The ballot will tell you one thing, but the people behind the latest casino referendum are saying something else. If voters want to make sure they know what they are voting on next November, they...

Column: More on the history of tribal gaming in California (04/29)

"The first week I discussed what led up to the enactment of the IGRA. Last week I wrote about all of the antiquated, ambiguous and contradictory aspects of federal Indian law and policy in existence,...

Column: Decision could erode support for Indian gaming (04/29)

"A California band of Indians that runs a bustling casino won an important court ruling last week. If it holds up on appeal, California tribes could gain the power to expand their casinos without having...

Letter: Don't force wealthy tribes to share casino revenue (04/28)

"The April 21 column “Supreme Court folds on gambling” stated that the Supreme Court’s denial of a writ of certiorari in Wolfchild et al. v. United States added another sad chapter in the relationship between...

Editorial: California deserves a share of tribal revenues (04/26)

"Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has presided over a huge expansion of tribal gaming, and tried to get a piece of the action on behalf of taxpayers. He fell short of his promise to extract a billion...

Column: Casinos always have the upper hand on wagers (04/26)

"Whether you play slots, craps, blackjack, roulette or baccarat or any other game in a casino, it is important to remember that games of chance are based on random outcomes and always favor the casino....

Editorial: California tribes can't get free ride on casinos (04/26)

"California voters have repeatedly supported Indian casinos, accepting ballot-box promises that gambling was needed to lift backcountry tribes from poverty. But as the operations flourished, another issue arose: How much should Sacramento receive from a...

Column: Watch out doing business with Seminole casino (04/26)

"As Florida politicians celebrate a long-term gambling deal with the Seminoles that will supposedly produce billions for the state, Fanit Panofsky has two words of advice for those doing business with the tribe: "Watch out."...

Column: Gun Lake Tribe opposes more Michigan gaming (04/26)

"For 10 years, the Gun Lake tribe fought to build a casino with a straightforward message: It would bring much-needed jobs and money not only to the tribe but to the rest of the Wayland...

Editorial: New approach to gambling needed in Alabama (04/23)

"Many Alabama voters had hoped they’d have a chance to do what our courts and elected officials can’t or won’t do —make clear whether electronic bingo is legal in our state. They’re out of luck;...

Editorial: Appeal decision on tribal compact negotiation (04/23)

"Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has no problem with gambling. He presided over a major expansion of the Indian casino industry during his six years in office, but sought a piece of the action on behalf of...

Column: California gambling on tribal casino revenues (04/23)

"California has long been engaged in its own big spin — as in downward — so our contention that the state has become overly dependent on revenue from casino gambling received some powerful backing this...

Column: Congress made mistake in passing IGRA in 1988 (04/22)

"Last week I wrote about the history of Indian gambling and the 1987 landmark case of Cabazon Tribe v. California leading up to the hasty enactment of the IGRA. The first mistake Congress made in...

Editorial: Debate improved Seminole Tribe's gaming deal (04/21)

"It took two years, two misfires and lots of rough-and-tumble give-and-take, but the process that finally yielded a gambling pact between the state and the Seminole Tribe of Florida was a healthy one. The state...

Column: Pechanga Band offers facility to rival Las Vegas (04/19)

"It’s a Friday night and the joint was jumping. The slot machines and gambling tables were packed with boisterous customers and a party atmosphere prevailed throughout the casino. We just weren’t in Las Vegas. On...

Debate: Flandreau Santee Sioux off-reservation casino (04/16)

The Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe and a group of business leaders are proposing an off-reservation casino near Sioux Falls, South Dakota.. The goal is to counteract a casino being proposed just across the border in...

Column: Seminole gaming deal no longer about children (04/15)

"The biggest difference between two earlier gambling agreements between the Seminole tribe and Gov. Charlie Crist, and the latest compact poised for legislative approval in the next week? Hint: It's not about the kids anymore....

Editorial: Seminole casino compact a good deal for Florida (04/12)

"Give the Florida Legislature credit. Lawmakers pushed their way into the delicate negotiations between Gov. Charlie Crist and the Seminole Tribe over a new gambling compact. It also took a lawsuit to get state lawmakers...

Opinion: Quapaw chairman manipulates tribal regulations (04/07)

The following is the opinion of Jennifer Mueller, a Quapaw tribal member. The Quapaw Tribe of Oklahoma has clear written resolutions on the process of allegations of misconduct for elected officials. As a tribal member...

Opinion: A very good time for growing tribal casino industry (04/06)

"Indian casinos may soon overtake commercial casinos. Total gaming revenues for tribes appear to be more than $26 billion a year, while the American Gaming Association reported the 12 commercial casino states generate less than...

Opinion: A plan to separate tribal governments and casinos (04/05)

"Indian tribes, whose businesses can be worth upwards of billions of dollars, are becoming too powerful, making too much money, and only benefiting a few – principally tribal leaders, who may or may not even...

Opinion: Alabama governor's gaming fight about corruption (04/05)

"In 2008, the Governor's Task Force on Illegal Gambling was established to ensure Alabama's law against slot machines was being applied evenly and fairly throughout the state. Since then, more than 100 illegal casinos have...

Editorial: Maine needs more thoughtful approach to gaming (04/05)

"Backers of proposals to put several casino options — not just the one in Oxford County — out to voters are right that a better approach to gambling questions is needed. But significantly expanding gambling,...

Editorial: Support Little River Band off-reservation casino (03/29)

"It’s becoming more of a sure bet Muskegon County will see construction of a casino in its near future. With the governor’s approval of amendments to the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians’ tribal compact...

Letter: Saginaw Chippewa Tribe, union can work together (03/29)

"For those of you not in the know, Chief Dennis Kequom sent out a letter to all of Soaring Eagle’s employees. In it, he decried our efforts to form a union and tried to intimidate...

Editorial: Mashantucket Tribe cuts back employee shuttle (03/25)

"Almost daily, the public witnesses reminders of how this Great Recession has irrevocably changed their lives. People used to say, "When the economy improves," ending the sentence saying what they planned to buy, invest in...

Letter: Passamaquoddy casino not about culture, welfare (03/25)

"In response to Virginia Sands’ op-ed, “Casino would preserve culture and benefit region financially", I agree that the Passamaquoddy, who have pursued a tribal casino for 20 years now, deserve the opportunity, and that a...

Opinion: United Auburn gaming revenues help community (03/25)

"A grant from California’s Indian Gaming Special Distribution Fund is helping the Roseville Police Department prevent crime and keep the city safer in difficult economic times. The $34,154 grant, which was awarded last May, is...

Editorial: More money for problem gambling in Oklahoma (03/24)

"The lottery, tribal gaming and pari-mutuel racing generated $184 million in state revenue in 2009 alone. The $750,000 spent to help problem gamblers amounts less than one-half of 1 percent of revenue. By contrast, the...

Editorial: Casino foes seek to steal Tohono O'odham land (03/24)

"A southeastern Arizona Indian tribe has a lot of power arrayed against its efforts to establish a casino, mostly because of where it would be located. The Tohono O'odham Nation is primarily located in Pima...

Opinion: Passamaquoddy Tribe deserves a shot at casino (03/22)

"The people of Maine stand to gain a lot from voting in favor of this casino proposal for the Passamaquoddy Reservation. A casino enterprise would not only allow the Passamaquoddy people to get off welfare,...

Column: Florida evolving to a full-blown gambling state (03/15)

"It's been five years since Broward County voters approved slot machines at four pari-mutuel sites, ushering in a new era of gambling in South Florida. The three Broward racetracks that have since opened casinos —...

Opinion: Tribal casinos not a good fit for communities (03/11)

"American Indian casinos bring more than the negative economic effects and social problems of all gambling casinos. They rely upon people who, for the most part, cannot afford to lose their money and many who...

Editorial: Don't fight with Connecticut tribes over Keno (03/08)

"Connecticut may be desperate, but not so desperate that it has to plug a considerable chunk of its budget shortfall with a new game of chance. Whether keno is determined to be a lottery or...

Florida lawmakers seek control over Seminole gaming (03/08)

Lawmakers in the Florida Senate introduced a bill to dictate the terms of a Class III gaming compact for the Seminole Tribe. The bill authorizes slot machines at all of the tribe's seven casinos and...

Opinion: Pequot casino project in Pennsylvania a mess (03/08)

"Sorting out the unforgivable mess of the Foxwoods casino project will take years. The South Philadelphia site on Columbus Boulevard, with enough commercial congestion already, was by far the worst of those considered by the...

Column: Card clubs bankroll anti-Indian casino ad blitz (03/08)

"The secret card club gang bankrolling the disturbing anti-Indian casino ad blitz in Richmond has failed to acknowledge basic city psychology: It's OK for us to criticize us but it's not OK for outsiders...

Editorial: Seminole casino deal makes sense for Florida (03/05)

"The Legislature and the Seminole Indian Tribe appear close to striking a deal to finally give Florida a portion of the proceeds from blackjack and other table games added to the Seminoles' casinos nearly two...

Editorial: Wyandotte casino bid bad for the community (03/04)

"Kansas' casino review board was just being cautious Wednesday in asking for more time and information before it makes a decision on the proposed Chisholm Creek Casino Resort near Mulvane. Real questions remain about how...

Opinion: Phillip Martin led Choctaws to casino industry (03/03)

"I first met Choctaw Chief Phillip Martin at the opening of the Silver Star Casino and he was not a man of many words. His actions always spoke for him and the Mississippi Band of...

Editorial: Steve Wynn no savior for Pennsylvania casino (03/02)

"Las Vegas casino mogul Steve Wynn is being touted as the latest savior for the foundering Foxwoods casino. But Wynn's vision for the Foxwoods site is further confirmation that casino gambling in Philadelphia will be...

Column: Consider tribal revenue sharing in Washington (03/01)

"Under gaming compacts with the state, tribes must dole out 2 percent of net receipts from table games into a fund that addresses the local impacts of casino operations. They also must pass out 0.5...

Column: The good and bad of tribal casinos in Oklahoma (03/01)

"The best thing about all the casinos surrounding us is that these gaming establishments put a lot of people to work. Money doesn't count itself — or does it? Money might count and stack itself...

Morongo Chair: Internet poker doesn't violate compact (03/01)

"When I read the California Tribal Business Alliance's recent commentary on Internet poker, I was reminded of a quote attributed to the late Daniel Patrick Moynihan: "Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, but they...

Opinion: Allow public vote on Graton Rancheria casino (02/25)

"Petaluma voters approved Measure H, which I also authored, to oppose a proposed casino just south of Petaluma, by a vote of 79 percent “yes” to 21 percent “no.” That casino proposal quickly derailed. Bottom...

Rincon Chair: States hold tribes hostage for compact (02/24)

"By stacking the deck against tribal governments when negotiating casino compacts, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger was gambling that he could violate federal law with impunity. He bet he could hold the tribes hostage by our...

Gila River Chair: Off-reservation casino breaks deal (02/23)

"In 2003, the Tohono O'Odham Nation of southern Arizona used a dummy corporation to buy land in Glendale, more than 150 miles north of their government seat. Last year, this tribe petitioned the federal government...

Editorial: Alabama's high-stakes battle over bingo (02/22)

"In the bruising, high-stakes battle over electronic bingo, each side will end up spending a megajackpot's worth of money touting its view and tearing down opponents. The least Alabamians should expect as they watch the...

Editorial: Apologize for attack on leader's ancestry (02/22)

"There's plenty to debate about the casino plans of the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria. Critics have asked legitimate questions about traffic and potential environmental impacts of a hotel and casino wedged between Rohnert...

Opinion: Texas gaming dollars going to Oklahoma (02/19)

"At the direction of Gov. Rick Perry and Texas' top legislative leaders, state agencies and universities are identifying ways to cut spending by 5 percent to help offset what is expected to be a budget...

Opinion: Following the gaming money in California (02/18)

"Speaking of legislators, I thought you might be interested in some information I just received about the influence on our legislators that is derived from casinos. The two biggest arguments given to allow the growth...

Paskenta Chair: Internet poker breaks tribal compact (02/16)

"California's economic woes are undisputed. But dire fiscal times do not justify dishonorable deeds and the breaking of commitments. This state, its governor and this Legislature have entered into tribal-state gaming compacts with 66...

Editorial: Account for California Indian gaming funds (02/15)

"Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger regularly asks that Californians "trust" him. We're willing to do that if he's willing to shed a little sunshine on how much money the state is getting from Indian casinos. Two years...

Editorial: Indian gaming influences national politics (02/12)

"It's no surprise that the National Education Association was the nation's biggest political lobbyist in 2007 and 2008, dishing out $56.3 million in federal and state campaigns. But a new study reveals that the next...

Opinion: Indian gaming is big business in California (02/12)

"Indian gambling has become a huge economic and political force in California. A 2005 report by the Institute of Governmental Studies at the University of California, Berkeley, said that Indian gambling in California produces $5.1...

Editorial: Don't bank on Internet poker for California (02/11)

"Once again, state legislators are taking a look at a plan that backers say will help reduce California's $20 billion budget gap without raising taxes or cutting spending. It is a proposal by the Morongo...

Editorial: Poarch Creek regulation bill a better option (02/11)

"Those who want a gambling bill to not only clear the Legislature, but also to win voters' approval, would be wise to consider some of the selling points of legislation being pushed by the Poarch...

Column: Who's the sucker in Internet poker debate? (02/10)

"It's an old line but true: If you sit down to play poker and don't know who the sucker is, it's you. On Tuesday, lobbyists, consultants and clients filled almost every one of the 182...

Robert McGhee: Poarch Creeks for bingo regulation (02/10)

"There are very few times in government where one plan can solve two problems -- especially huge issues like our state's budget shortfall and how to deal with bingo. But Alabama legislators will soon have...

Editorial: Support slot machines at tracks in Michigan (02/08)

"Michigan voters were conned in 2004 by a casino industry determined to keep a monopoly. And the state's racetracks and the communities which surround them were its victims. A push for a constitutional amendment to...

Opinion: Union deal not good for all Pequot card dealers (02/01)

"MGM dealers take great pride in their work ethic, customer service and personal standards. With last week’s union press release, they are mad, disappointed, disillusioned and, quite possibly, soon to be broke. MGM dealers were...

Marge Anderson: Urban casino will hurt tribal economy (02/01)

"Gubernatorial candidate Mark Dayton told reporters on Monday that if he is elected, he will push for a new casino in the Twin Cities that will share revenue with the state. "I don't see how...

Editorial: A historic union contract at Pequot casino (01/28)

"The tentative agreement announced Tuesday by casino dealers working for the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe is not only historic, but a testament to perseverance. Shortly after Foxwoods Resort Casino opened 18 years ago next month, organized...

Opinion: Off-reservation casino bad deal for Mohawk (01/28)

"I read the guest editorial from the chiefs in this past week's Indian Time. The argument was for the Sullivan County casino referendum on Saturday. For those of us who did not keep up, the...

Opinion: California agency keeps eye on tribal gaming (01/27)

"In Dan Morain's column, "Casino-owning tribes are betting on Brown," Morain displays a complete misunderstanding of the attorney general's role with regard to the regulation of tribal casinos in California. Under the tribal compacts negotiated...

Editorial: Bad news for Cowlitz Tribe's casino project (01/26)

"Dark, dreary and durable as the economic recession cloud remains, there are occasional, relatively minor silver linings that appear from time to time. One has been the slump’s stunning impact on tribal casinos across the...

Editorial: Lawmakers wrong to kill Seminole compact (01/25)

"A legislative committee was wrong to shred the latest gambling agreement reached by Gov. Charlie Crist and the Seminole tribe because the state now risks losing more than $100 million a year. Hope remains for...

Opinion: California tribes placing bets on Jerry Brown (01/25)

"Attorney General Jerry Brown casts himself as a no-nonsense prosecutor. But when it comes to asserting state oversight of casinos owned by Indian tribes, he's been less than aggressive. Tribes that own the state's most...

Nelson Pinola: Bay Area casino threatens sovereignty (01/25)

"The Guidiville Band of Pomo Indians, a Mendocino County Pomo tribe like ours, is attempting to obtain land in trust for gaming at Point Molate, Contra Costa County, in the heart of the urban San...

Opinion: Alabama governor's priorities wrong on gaming (01/19)

"As Gov. Bob Riley and his Rose Bowl entourage tailgated before the University of Alabama dismantled the Texas Longhorns to become college football's undisputed national champion, a plane flew over and around the Pasadena arena...

I. Nelson Rose: Lobbyists connected to gaming industry (01/12)

"Lobbyists, and their clients, “special interests,” often get a bum rap. Lobbyists rarely give bundles of cash to corrupt politicians. Their main goal is to persuade legislators and regulators on behalf of their clients....

Opinion: Say no to off-reservation casino in California (01/08)

"Sometime in the next 10 weeks, and despite opposition from Richmond's mayor, the governor, the state's two U.S. senators, and what seems to be a lot of Richmond residents, the City Council could vote to...

Editorial: Gaming not the only option for Shinnecocks (01/06)

"More than 200 years late — 31 if you count from the tribe’s petition — the federal government has acknowledged that the Shinnecocks of Southampton, Long Island, are an Indian tribe. Settling that question raises... s