
Texan Bill proposed to allow tribal gaming
Casinos are illegal in the state of Texas but there is one casino in operation on land belonging to the Kickapoo Tribe. Other tribes haven’t been allowed to open casinos on their lands so recently two Texan State Reps proposed a bill to make the process of applying to open a casino by different tribes fairer. The representatives worked on the proposed constitutional amendment with two tribes, the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo and the Alabama Coushatta. Fourteen years ago the Alabama Coushatta tribe opened a casino on their land but had to close it under an order from a Federal court. The Kickapoo tribe was given the go ahead by the Bureau of Indian Affairs and its casino remained open. The new bill is to seek to end this discrepancy in granting or refusing permission for different tribes to open casinos.
Gaming compacts to regulate tribal gambling
Under the terms of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, tribes wishing to become involved in gambling on their lands need to enter into a gaming compact with the state. The Seminole tribe has such an agreement in Florida. Recently the Florida Senate Committee on Regulated Industries agreed after a very intense debate to extend the Seminole gaming compact. Part of the compact was to end in July but the tribe has been given a one year extension. This comes against the background of debate over whether to allow casino resorts in Florida or not. At the moment it does not seem likely that there will be movement on the question this year.
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