Detroit Casinos Relieved After House Rejects Indian Casino Bill

MGM Grand had a big stake in the outcome of a House vote on two new Indian tribe casinos. Other casinos in the Detroit area also were watching closely to the outcome on Wednesday.

The outcome was positive for all parties involved after the House defeated a Bill that would have given land to two Indian tribes to build new casinos. The Bill was shot down by a 298-121 vote.

"Opening casinos in the proposed nearby cities would have severely harmed our ongoing transformation," said Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick. Other believed passing the Bill would have had permanent ramifications for state everywhere.

"This Bill sends a signal that reservation shopping....is O.K.," said Rep. Charles Dent. The Bill would have allowed casinos in both Romulus and Port Huron, where the casinos would have been located.

Opponents of the Bill claim that it would have set a precedent for tribes to gain land for casinos anywhere they wished. They feel any area with financial needs would have been able to give land to Indians for casinos.

Supporters of the Bill believe they were just settling a land dispute that started over a century old land claim. They felt they were making amends to the Indian tribes for not protecting tribal land over a century ago.

June 26, 2008
Posted By Terry Goodwin
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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