New York Tribal Casino Gambling Fought by Department of Justice
Several Indian tribes are eager to open casinos in New York, but the Department of Justice continues to resist tribal gambling at off-reservation sites. Tribal leaders for the Seneca Nation, the St. Regis Mohawks, the Stockbridge-Munsee Mohicans, and the Shinnecock Nation had hoped casino gambling would be a more negotiable item with the Obama administration, but so far the DoJ is following the same Bush policies.
The Shinnecock have been struggling just to get formal federal recognition for decades. Finally this year, an agreement will force the Bureau of Indian Affairs to fast-track recognition by the end of the year.
Still, Bush appointees opposed any conversion of land into trust for gaming purposes, intending to allow casinos only on reservations. The election of Barack Obama was expected to quickly change that attitude, but so far policies seem to be mirroring the previous administration's.
A Shinnecock casino may be the potentially most controversial, as the tribe has examined sites on Long Island and is even looking close to New York City. The Mohawks actually had a casino in the works when approval was reversed as the Department of the Interior added a clause requiring tribal casinos be within easy traveling distance for reservation residents needing work.
US officials say casinos need to be a source of jobs for Indians, while tribal leaders say revenues from gambling to support tribal members are far more important.
