Tagged: Casino

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. (AP) — United Keetoowah Band of Cherokees officials say they have a contingency plan in place for employees if the tribe's casino is forced to close.

The tribe and Attorney General Scott Pruitt signed an agreement last month that requires the tribe to pay $2 million to the state and secure federal trust status for land on which the Keetoowah Cherokee Casino is located. The tribe has until Monday to comply or it has to cease gaming operations.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Attorney General Scott Pruitt has signed an enforcement agreement with the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians over a tribal casino in Tahlequah.

The agreement signed Friday requires the tribe to pay $2 million in damages and secure federal acceptance of the casino's land into trust by the end of July or cease gaming operations.

The Keetoowah tribe opened the casino in 1986 before the federal government determined whether the land was Indian land. Under state law, casinos on non-Indian land are illegal.

OKMULGEE, Okla. (AP) — An attempt to override Muscogee Creek Nation Chief George Tiger's veto of a resolution opposing a proposed casino in Broken Arrow has failed.

The National Council's 10-5 vote fell two short of the votes needed for the override on Saturday. The Tulsa World reports that two members of the 17-member council were absent.

The National Council passed the resolution opposing the Kialegee Tribal Town's proposed casino on March 8th. The resolution says the Kialegees don't have jurisdiction on the restricted Creek allotment where the casino is to be built.

TULSA, Okla. (AP) — Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt's office has until April 10th to respond to a Native American tribe's motion to dismiss Pruitt's lawsuit that seeks to stop construction of a casino in Broken Arrow.

In court papers, the Kialegee Tribal Town argued they should be exempt from the lawsuit based on federal law that has long recognized Indian tribes "as possessing the common-law immunity from suit traditionally enjoyed by sovereign powers."

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — A report says gambling revenue at Indian-run casinos edged up slightly in 2010, reversing a first-ever drop the previous year and showing new strength as the economy improves.

The study, "Casino City's Indian Gaming Industry Report," said revenue at Indian casinos was $26.7 billion in 2010, up from $26.4 billion in 2009. In contrast, revenue at commercial casinos declined 0.1 percent and the businesses are expected to soon be overtaken by Indian casinos.