Having lost his fight over the issue of tribal casinos in Wyoming, Governor Dave Freudenthal has vowed to ensure a positive outcome for the Wind River Indian Reservation, the local communities and the state. A recent ruling by the 10th US Circuit Court of Appeals allows the Northern Arapaho Tribe to offer Las Vegas type slot machines and gaming tables at its Wind River Casino. The decision comes after years of negotiations that failed to achieve a compact between state and tribe. Federal officials will now negotiate a final deal under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.

The Wyoming Governor is now willing to do ‘more than the minimum’ to make things work. He was speaking on Tuesday at the third annual Wind River Native American Conference at The Inn in Lander as a member of a panel of federal, state and local officials. The discussion concentrated on the current issues affecting the Wind River Indian Reservation and the conference was sponsored by the Department of Justice, US Attorney's Office in the District of Wyoming, Bureau of Indian Affairs and Office for Victims of Crime.

Wyoming residents last month had the opportunity to express their views about gambling in the State. Wyoming’s present gambling laws do not fully cover the technical advances in the industry and since late last year county attorneys have shut down some electronic bingo operations and a district judge ruled e-bingo was illegal. The Legislature has since voted to outlaw e-bingo. The Wind River Casino will be able to offer Class III gambling as Wyoming is unlikely to appeal the recent court ruling. The remote location of the Casino will mean that much will need to be done to draw people to the area but market research suggests that it can be profitable. (E-08.10.05)

© Copyright 2005 CasinoCompendium



>>> return to archives
>>> return to frontpage