Casino-resort will be a financial boom, planners say

The proposed casino-resort by the Shawnee Tribe will sit on 104 acres of land that isn't a reservation. The tribe will have to put the land into a trust in order to build the casino.

Tuesday, January 22nd 2008, 5:54 pm

By: News 9


By Charles Bassett, NEWS 9

Planners of a casino-resort said it will be a financial boom to Oklahoma City.

The proposed casino-resort by the Shawnee Tribe will sit on 104 acres of land that isn't a reservation. The tribe will have to put the land into a trust in order to build the casino.

Attorney Mike McBride is an expert on Indian Affairs. He said the location may cause a problem in granting the trust because the Shawnees are based in Miami.

"A trust is for the purposes of Indian land are when the United States holds the title to that property for the benefit of an Indian tribe," McBride said. "That scrutiny gets more intense the further you go from a traditional reservation land base for an Indian tribe."

While the idea of more jobs with competitive salaries may sound enticing, Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett has problems with the idea.

"I have never been convinced that it's in Oklahoma City's best interest to have a casino anywhere, much less, that close to Remington Park," Cornett said. "So they've got a lot of convincing to do if they hope to sway me to that side."

The Shawnee Tribe has called a press conference Wednesday morning at 10:30. They will show what the casino will look like, plus layout the economic impact to the city. The meeting will be held at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum.

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