Casino Controversy Leading To Indian Land Dispute in Supreme Court

Indian tribes around the nation are well known for their casinos that are built on sovereign land. In Rhode Island, the government is trying to stop a casino from being built.

The casino worry has led to a bitter land dispute involving the state government, and the Narragansett Tribe in Rhode Island. The Supreme Court has agreed to hear the case and make a ruling. That could come in the fall of this year.

The Narragansett were federally recognized as a tribe in 1983. The issue is whether land that the tribe obtained should be governed by federal and tribal law, or if the tribe should be subjected to state laws.

If state laws are applied, the tribe would not be allowed to build a casino. Casino gambling is currently illegal in Rhode Island. If tribal and Federal laws are followed, the casino would be an option.

"The paramount issue of state sovereignty is the potential that this could open the door to a casino, at least a crack, over the objections of Rhode Island voters," said Joseph Larisa Jr., an attorney who represents Charleston.

While that is the position of anti gambling groups and politicians who are against gambling, the other side of the story also has issues.

The Narragansett Tribe and other Indian rights groups are concerned that a negative ruling against the tribe could cause problems for all tribal land across the United States.

February 25, 2008
Posted By Larry Rutherford
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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