Newspaper Article

Indians Say States Stack Deck Against Reservation Gambling Operations

Stanich, Susan

1992

Overview

At an Indian gaming association convention in Minneapolis last month, Minnesota and tribal officials drafted agreements setting down regulations on video gambling machine and blackjack paybacks, background checks, licensing, security and enforcement. The 11 Chippewa and Dakota Sioux tribes in the state now operate 15 casinos; the state participates in law enforcement. [John McCain] and [Daniel K. Inouye] reminded the governors that tribes possess the sovereign right to offer gambling. \"It would seem we are left with the alternative of having the federal government negotiate compacts with the tribal governments,\" they wrote. \"There would be no involvement of state governments in negotiation of compacts or in the regulation of Indian gaming.\" [Charles Keechi] and many tribal leaders are leery about tampering with the law. They fear that tribes will lose legal ground under what they consider a well-funded and well-organized assault by private, non-Indian gaming interests and a variety of state interests, including state-run lotteries and racetracks.

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