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Oregon tribe may benefit from federal decision

OREGON -- As reported by the Oregon News-Register: "'Reservation shopping' may be a thing of the past, if officials follow through on plans to revise federal policies for Indian tribes looking to build off-reservation casinos.

"That could be good news for the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde, which has mounted a vigorous and expensive campaign to prevent the Warm Springs Tribe, based in Central Oregon, from putting up a five-story mega-casino just east of Portland in Cascade Locks.

"...Reservation-shopping is a term used to describe rural tribes who 'shop' for off-reservation casino sites more readily accessible from urban areas.

"Only three tribes currently operate such casinos, but 30 more have proposals in the pipeline. Two of those proposals are aimed at tapping the Portland market, which is crucial to the continued success of the Grand Ronde Tribe's Spirit Mountain Casino.

"...The Warm Springs Tribe is seeking authorization for a casino 40 miles east of Portland in Cascade Locks. Meanwhile, Washington's Cowlitz Tribe is seeking authorization for a casino 15 miles north of Vancouver in La Center.

"But both need approval from the U.S. Department of the Interior. And that is looking less likely in the wake of the new policy announcement..."

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