Dispute Still Lingers Over Tribal Casino in New Mexico

The Governor of New Mexico, Bill Richardson, made sure that a new Fort sill Apache Tribe casino never opened to the public late last week. He stationed police officers at the entrance to keep people from entering.

The tribe still believes they were within their jurisdiction to try and open the casino. They are referring to a settlement in court back in March of 2007 as grounds for the casino.

The settlement was made in response to a lawsuit by the Comanche Nation of Oklahoma. they named both the Sill tribe, and the Federal Government in the lawsuit.

An agreement was reached, and the Sill tribe agreed to not make any more attempts for an expanded casino in Oklahoma. They felt that in that agreement, however, there was language that allowed them to operate a casino in New Mexico.

The National Indian Gaming Commission does not believe that is the case. They have warned the tribe that they are not to open the casino, and that they could put themselves in danger with the law should they proceed with opening.

The situation is surely to end up in court before the issue is resolved.

March 3, 2008
Posted By Larry Rutherford
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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