Martha’s Vineyard Casino Plan to Continue As Tribal Vote Fails
The Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (pictured) in Martha’s Vineyard will continue with plans to convert Aquinnah community center into a gambling hall with 300 electronic, bingo-style games after a vote failed to put a stop to the plans, Law360 reports. In an even note (110 to 110), the casino’s opponents failed to reach the two-thirds majority to overturn the project, which hasn't yet been granted building permits by state authorities. The Wampanoag tribe has been arguing with the state government of Massachusetts over conflicting laws: the tribe says the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act allows it to build the facility without state approval. Meanwhile, the government argues that this act is trumped by the 1987 congressional agreement that prohibits gambling on the island without a court settlement between the two parties. Massachusetts recently won a victory when a US District Judge stopped progress on the facility, despite the tribe’s claim that revenue gained could help fund “desperately underfunded” tribal government services. [Law360]
