Toolsview all


Fort Sill Apaches subpoenaed over N.M. poker tournament
Tribes: Casino feud continues over purchase of out-of-state trust land

 
By The Associated Press    Comment on this article Leave a comment
Published: July 18, 2008

LAS CRUCES, N.M. — Federal regulators have subpoenaed the Oklahoma-based Fort Sill Apache Tribe, seeking details of a poker tournament the tribe held at its New Mexico casino — which has not been approved for gambling.

More Info

BACKGROUND
The Fort Sill Apache Tribe contends a 2007 settlement agreement in Oklahoma involving the federal government provides legal grounds for it to open the casino.

The tribe bought the New Mexico land in 1998, and the property was taken into trust by the Interior Department for the tribe in 2002. Federal law prohibits gambling on Indian lands taken into trust after October 1988, except under certain conditions. The state Gaming Control Board also is looking into the tournament.

Gov. Bill Richardson has opposed the casino and said the state will keep the tribe from further gambling.

Advertisement

The National Indian Gaming Commission sent a letter Tuesday demanding a description of the tournament, the number and names of participants and the names of employees.

Failure to heed the subpoena could lead to court action, the commission said.

Fort Sill Apache Chairman Jeff Houser said the tribe hesitates to provide information for fear the federal government might pass it along to state gambling officials, who also are investigating the invitation-only June 22 tournament.

Toolsview all



Related Topics: Culture and Lifestyle, Social Issues, Hobbies and Pastimes, Gambling, Card Games, Games, Poker, Native American Issues, Indigenous Issues



Leave a Comment

Thank you for joining our conversation on NewsOK.com. We encourage your discussion but ask that you stay within the bounds of our commenting and posting policy. Please help by flagging comments that violate these guidelines. Posts that contain obscene or vulgar language will be immediately flagged and not posted.

If you prefer your thoughts to appear in The Oklahoman, we encourage you to submit a letter to the editor.

Would you like to leave a comment?

Log in or sign up (it's free).

comments powered by Disqus

Ads by Yahoo!

New Policy in CA
If you drive 2 hours/day or less, you better read this…
Insurance.Comparisons.org
Woman is 51 But Looks 25
Mom reveals simple wrinkle secret that has angered doctors...
ConsumerLifestyles.org

News Photo Galleriesview all