gaming

Saginaw Chippewa Union Vote

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

From Indianz:

Saginaw Chippewa casino workers reject union

Housekeeping staff at the casino owned by the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe of Michigan voted down a union by a 2-1 margin on Thursday. Nearly all the full- and part-time housekeeping staff at the Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort participated in the election. They voted against joining the Teamsters union by 192 to 88. The National Labor Relations Board oversaw the election, the second of its kind at a tribal casino. Dealers at the Foxwoods Resort Casino, owned by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation of Connecticut, voted overwhelmingly last month to join the United Auto Workers.

Get the Story:
Teamsters turned down by casino workers (The Mt. Pleasant Morning Sun 12/21)

NIGC Approves Huron Nottawaseppi Management Contract

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

From the NIGC:

 

NIGC Approves Nottawaseppi Hurron Band of Potawatomi Management Contract

Washington DC, December 17, 2007 — On Friday, December 14, 2008, National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) Chairman Phil Hogen approved a gaming management contract between the Hurron Band of Potawatomi Indians and Gaming Entertainment (Michigan) LLC.

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Huron Nottawaseppi Casino News

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

From the Citizen Patriot:

Marshall casino moving forward

Leaders of the of Potawatomi Indians announced Monday a Lansing contractor will build its $270 million casino in Calhoun County.

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County of Amador v. USDOI Materials

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

From Indianz:

The Bush administration is facing tribal criticism for its land-into-trust policies but officials have at least one court victory under their belts.

In a 16-page decision issued last Thursday, a federal judge in California dismissed a suit against Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne and Assistant Secretary Carl Artman. The two officials were accused of violating federal law with a legal opinion that said the Ione Band of Miwok Indians could open a casino in Amador County.

Here are the briefs:

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Sault Tribe Police Chief Scandal

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

From the Detroit Free Press (H/T Indianz):

Assault case topples Greektown Casino chairman:Acccused by a woman, he’s also suspended as cop

December 13, 2007

The chairman of the Greektown Casino board of directors has been forced to step down after being accused of assaulting a woman who fought off his sexual advances.

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Study on Gaming and the Income and Employment of American Indians

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

From Economics Letters, a study on Indian gaming and tribal member employment: “Is gaming the optimal strategy? The impact of gaming facilities on the income and employment of American Indians”: Article

From the abstract:

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New Studies Show Pequot and Mohegan Casinos are Good*

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

From the Connecticut Economy, a journal published by the University of Connecticut.

The first article, “Spill-Free Gaming,” demonstrated that the operation of the Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun casinos had no adverse effect on local crime rates. A second article, “The State of Play in New England Casino Gaming,” argues that the enormous revenues generated by gaming Connecticut means that legalized gambling in Rhode Island and Massachusetts is inevitable. Another article, “Got Game?” demonstrated that these two casinos contribute $430 million a year to the Conn. general fund.

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NYTs Article on Don Barden, once partner to Michigan gaming tribes

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

From the NYT:

For Casino Owner, Winning a License Was Not a Matter of Luck

By SEAN D. HAMILL

Published: December 12, 2007

PITTSBURGH — Don H. Barden could have scheduled the groundbreaking for his $450 million casino on his 64th birthday, Dec. 20, if he wanted. After all, he owns what is projected to be the most lucrative of Pennsylvania’s 14 slots casino licenses.

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St. Regis Mohawk’s $3B Suit against Harrah’s re: Interference with Gaming Contract

Matthew L.M. Fletcher1 Comment

The Northern District of New York refused to dismiss a claim seeking to enforce a tribal court judgment against Harrah’s for an amount (including interest) approaching $3 Billion. The case is Vacco v. Harrah’s Operating Co., Inc.

Legal materials and news coverage below:

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St. Croix Chippewa Gaming & Trust Lands Suit

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

From Indianz [complaint and motion for TRO at the bottom of the post]:

Wisconsin tribe sues BIA over off-reservation gaming

Monday, December 10, 2007

A Wisconsin tribe sued the Bush administration on Friday, accusing two political appointees of changing the land-into-trust process to block off-reservation casinos.

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