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Tribe pushes for Illinois bingo parlor

SYCAMORE, Illinois – As reported by the Illinois Daily Chronicle: "A Tuesday sit-down between a Kansas-based American Indian tribe and DeKalb County Board members did little to resolve a stalemate over whether the tribe will be able to move ahead with plans to build a bingo parlor near Shabbona.

"In its presentation to the board's Executive Committee, representatives for the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation rehashed the reasons they believe the 128 acres near University and Preserve roads is reservation land.

"The Potawatomi purchased the land for $8.8 million in April 2006, and have since announced plans to build a government center and a bingo hall on the site. The county abruptly cut off negotiations with the tribe for the development of the land last October because county officials were not certain the tribe's claim that the land is a reservation was accurate.

"…Dennis Whittlesey, a Washington, D.C., attorney retained by the county, said the land is clearly Indian land, but whether it actually qualifies for reservation status is a complex legal question.

"…Whittlesey said the tribe could get licensed through the state for non-Indian bingo just like anybody else, but the land must be a reservation for it to host gaming regulated by the federal Indian Gaming Act…"

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