Casino Project In Carter Lake Causing A Stir In Two States

Usually these type of projects are protected by Federal law. A Native American tribe that wants to build a casino is permitted to under the law, just as long as gambling is legal in the state where the casino will be built.

Enter the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska. They are building a casino in Carter Lake which is in Iowa. Sort of. Carter Lake is on the Nebraska side of the Missouri River, and gambling is illegal in Nebraska.

In Iowa, gambling is legal, which means that the tribe would be allowed to build the casino. Whatever the case may be, both states are upset with the casino going up.

Iowa might be filing a lawsuit because they fear that the tribe will be allowed to operate the casino without paying taxes on their revenue. Nebraska has already filed a lawsuit.

Pottawattamie County has not decided yet what they will do. They could file their own lawsuit to try and stop the casino project, or they could join Nebraska's existing one. They also could wait and join Iowa's if they follow through on filing their lawsuit.

The County Board of Supervisors will discuss their options on Monday and they will likely formulate a plan as to which action they will take. The casino is already under construction.

August 18, 2008
Posted By Larry Rutherford
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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