NO! to another Tribe

Gaming commission rules against Kialegee casino
   

 

Construction progress on the Kialegee Casino in Broken Arrow last week. STEPHEN PINGRY/Tulsa World                         

Broken Arrow site determined not to be eligible for gambling under Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, congressman says.

By Staff Reports
Published: 5/25/2012 3:09 PM
Last Modified: 5/25/2012 4:18 PM

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Document: Read the memorandum here.

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The National Indian Gaming Commission has determined that the site of a proposed casino in Broken Arrow does not belong to the Kialegee Tribal Town and is not eligible for gambling, U.S. Rep. John Sullivan announced Friday afternoon.

"This is a huge win for the citizens of Broken Arrow who stood up and affirmed 'We don't want casino gaming close to our neighborhoods, churches and schools,'" Sullivan said in a news release.

"The citizens of Broken Arrow can rest assured that there will never be a Kialegee casino built on that land."

Sullivan noted that the solicitor general for the Bureau of Indian Affairs concurred with the gaming commission's decision that the land was not eligible for gaming under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.

Last week, U.S. Chief District Judge Gregory Frizzell granted a temporary injunction against the Kialegee Tribal Town and its casino developers, saying the casino would violate the state gaming compact and the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act because the Kialegees do not have "Indian lands."
The federally recognized tribe has been building a temporary facility that would consist of about eight to 12 prefabricated buildings with slot machines. The tribe had plans to build a permanent casino building that was to be complete around the beginning of 2013.

The land is at the southwest corner of South Olive Avenue (129th East Avenue) and West Florence Street (111th Street), just north of the Creek Turnpike.

Broken Arrow Citizens Against Neighborhood Gaming organizers Jared Cawley and Rob Martinek praised Sullivan for his help opposing the casino proposal.

"He helped us present our case and pushed the NIGC and BIA to issue a ruling," Cawley and Martinek said in a prepared statement. "We are very proud of Congressman Sullivan's steadfast and energetic defense of the families of Broken Arrow."

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