Wisconsin tribes fighting over casino plans; highlight Mohegan Sun involvement

as posted at indianz.com
04.17.07

Wisconsin tribes fight over off-reservation casino

Two Wisconsin tribes continue to battle over plans for an off-reservation casino.

The Menominee Nation wants to open a casino in Kenosha, nearly 200
miles from the reservation. The Mohegan Tribe of Connecticut, the owner of one the largest casinos in the world, is financing the project.

The Forest County Potawatomi Tribe is running ads against the proposal, highlighting the Mohegan involvement. The tribe operates an off-reservation casino in downtown Milwaukee.

The casino is currently before the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Washington, D.C. If it gains approval there, the state governor has to concur with the decision.

Even if that happens, the Menominee Nation still needs to have the land placed in trust for the casino site. Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne has raised concerns about off-reservation gaming.