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Colorado Deal Deemed Illegal

COLORADO – As reported by the Denver Post: "The developers of a proposed Indian casino near Denver negotiated "excessive compensation" in a lopsided deal with the impoverished tribes the casino is supposed to help, federal Indian casino regulators say.

"The regulators deemed illegal the agreement between Golden developer Steve Hillard and the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes of Oklahoma, putting the embattled casino proposal in even further jeopardy.

"But Hillard said that the deal followed the tribes' wishes and that the rejection by the National Indian Gaming Commission is simply the first step in a negotiation process.

"…The tribes and Hillard, head of a development group called the Native American Land Group, have proposed a casino with related development near Denver International Airport. But the project has been rejected by the U.S. Interior Department and Gov. Bill Owens.

"Owens said the National Indian Gaming Commission's stance bolsters his case.

"…Calling the arrangement 'quite troubling,' the commission said the Native American Land Group limited its expenditures and risks while guaranteeing itself a big cut of the profits.

"…The commission said that percentage amounts to an ownership interest in the proposed casino, which is not allowed under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act…"

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