Under these bills, every time a $1000 winner at a Michigan casino tries to collect, the casino must determine whether or not the winner owes money in the child support system.
Indian gaming
Conner & Taggart on the Impact of Gaming on New Mexico Tribes
Thaddieus W. Conner and William A. Taggart have published “The Impact of Gaming on the Indian Nations of New Mexico” in the Social Science Quarterly (conner-taggart-the-impact-of-gaming-on-nm-tribes). Here is the abstract:
Objective.
This study examines the economic and social impact of Indian gaming on the residents of the 22 pueblos and tribes in New Mexico.
Method.
We employ a naturally occurring quasi-experimental design that classifies each of the Indian Nations into one of two groups, gaming and nongaming, depending on the continuous operation of a “Las Vegas” style casino for multiple years in the 1990s. For these two groups we compare aggregate, primarily U.S. Census, data spanning 25 indicators in both 1990 and 2000.
Results.
Although improvements were evident for both groups, nine of the 12 economic measures and six of the 13 social measures revealed a growing disparity favoring gaming nations during the 1990s, while six other measures suggested declining but continuing differences. These findings persisted in light of controls for population and urbanization, though many of the economic differences disappeared for the rural nations.
Conclusion.
Gaming has had a positive economic and social impact on the gaming pueblos and tribes in New Mexico, especially for the more urbanized nations. The gaming nations are enjoying higher incomes, lower levels of poverty, and improvements in selected social areas compared to those nations opting not to pursue casino gaming in the 1990s.
Catskill Litigation Trust v. Harrah’s Cert Petition
Here it is — catskill-litigation-trust-cert-petition
This was filed in mid-January, and since the SCT denied cert in the CA9 case that the petitioners claim conflicts with this one, I bet this one has no chance of being granted.
Gun Lake Band’s Gaming Development Partners Seeking to Restructure
From Station Casinos:
Company Elects Not to Make $14.6 Million Interest Payment On Subordinated Notes As It Launches Plan
Preliminary Fourth Quarter Results Show a 19% Revenue Decline and an Operating Loss of Approximately $2 Million (excluding anticipated impairments); Company Confirms Cash Position of Approximately $350 Million
LAS VEGAS, Feb. 3 /PRNewswire/ — Station Casinos, Inc. (“Station” or the “Company”) today announced that it is soliciting votes from its bondholders in favor of a restructuring plan that the Company’s equity sponsors and lead senior secured lenders have already agreed to support. As part of the restructuring plan, the Company and certain affiliates are offering the bondholders a combination of secured notes and cash in exchange for their outstanding bonds. The purpose of the restructuring plan is to significantly reduce the outstanding principal amount of indebtedness and cash interest expense of the Company.
Patchak v. Kempthorne TRO Oral Argument Transcript
Judge Leon ruled from the bench in this case on Monday, denying a TRO motion from Patchak, a member of 23 is Enough and MichGO (although he challenges that last part), to stop the trust acquisition of land in Allegan County for the Gun Lake Band.
Here is the transcript: patchak-v-kempthorne-transcript
Given the judge’s hostility toward Patchak’s attorney and legal positions, occasionally labeling them frivolous, one could argue (I suppose) that a Rule 11 motion could be in order. But I highly doubt that such a motion would be treated favorably by Judge Leon, who does not appear to suffer fools gladly.
Here are the pleadings.
Cook v. Avi Casino Enterprises Cert Petition
Here is the petition — cook-v-avi-casino-enterprises-cert-petition
Here are the lower court materials (previously posted).
Gun Lake Band Awaits Ruling in Patchak v. Skibine
From West Michigan Business:
GRAND RAPIDS — Odds are even the Gun Lake casino will be a winning bet today.
This morning, U.S. District Judge Richard J. Leon was to hear motions that could once more delay a casino plan, now entering its 10th year of legal maneuvering.
At stake: whether the federal government can turn 147 acres in Wayland Township into tribal land, by placing it in trust.
The U.S. Department of the Interior and the Gun Lake Band of Pottawatomi said last week they would wait until 5 p.m. today before inking the transfer. That is expected to happen if the judge denies motions to delay.
Mini Report on Gaming Tribe Council Members’ Salaries
Menominee Motion for TRO Denied in Fee to Trust Challenge
The Eastern District of Wisconsin denied the Menominees motion for a TRO in their challenge to the application of the regulations on off-reservation gaming. The complaint is here.
Suit over LTBB Revenue Sharing Payments
From Indianz:
A lawsuit over the distribution of gaming revenues from the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians will continue but the parties reached an agreement over payments for this year.
The tribe shares 2 percent of electronic gaming revenues from the Odawa Casino Resort with local communities. The Emmet County Local Revenue Sharing Board decides how to distribute the funds. Three educational institutions are suing the board over the distribution formula, saying they are entitled to a larger share. The tribe is not a party in the lawsuit.
Get the Story:
Agreement reached to delay casino revenue-sharing payments (The Petoskey News-Review 11/19)
Turtle Talk 
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