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Tribal Casinos Outgrow Tribal Land

31 May 2004

WASHINGTON, DC – As reported by the Associated Press: "…In search of bigger crowds and greater profits, Tule River is one of many tribes pushing toward what some say will be Indian gambling's next frontier: off-reservation casinos.

"…The trend is being watched warily by some federal officials and local residents.

"…Tribal gambling has boomed since Congress legalized Nevada-style Indian casinos 16 years ago.

"…Many are hampered by reservations in remote rural sites, and some of these tribes are trying to move to better locations - even if they're far from the reservation land where most agree federal law intended tribal gambling to occur.

"…The 1988 law confines tribal gambling to Indian lands, which most often means existing reservations, and prohibits gambling on land acquired after the law was enacted. But there are several exceptions, including one for land restored to a tribe that has regained federal recognition. The Interior Department also can determine that an off-reservation casino is in a tribe's best interest and wouldn't harm the surrounding community, if the governor of the state where the casino will be built agrees.

"Fewer than 20 tribes nationwide have gotten permission for off-reservation casinos under any of these exceptions, said George Skibine, director of the Bureau of Indian Affairs' Office of Indian Gaming Management.

"…But Skibine and others said the number of tribes trying to build off-reservation is growing…"

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