'); //-->
Home
Help

Latest News

Related Coverage


RECENT STORIES

11/08/01
US withdraws recognition of 3d tribe

11/05/01
Chinooks pin future on US recognition, casino

10/30/01
Casino case raises issues of money, politics

10/6/01
In US ruling on Nipmucs, members' status is faulted

9/28/01
Nipmuc nation loses US status

8/13/01
Trust benefits ex-BIA official

8/10/01
Study touts impact of proposed Mass. casino

7/26/01
McCain grills officials on Mohegan deal

7/10/01
Nipmucs, company set plan on casino

7/8/01
Mohegan tribe says contracts study finds no violations

6/8/01
Tribe is in debt $2m to backers

6/4/01
Tribe said to want land for casino

5/21/01
Regulating tribal casinos

5/14/01
Law skirted in Mohegan deal, former overseer says

4/18/01
Casino foes to remove disputed policy from court fight

4/14/01
Official took job after aid for casino

3/28/01
Probe of tribe designation sought

3/27/01
Decisions on status of tribe draw fire

3/25/01
Indians given a parting boost

3/20/01
Investor's linked to tribe's leaders

3/12/01
Indian casinos spend to limit US oversight

1/31/01
Mohegan Sun boyout deal remains mystery

1/17/01
Questions on Mohegan deal raised

12/20/00
Indian gaming act revision sought

12/16/00
Congressmen seeking probe on Indian casinos

TRIBAL GAMBLE: THE SERIES

Day One, 12/10/00
Casino boom benefits non-Indians

The $800 million deal for outsiders at Mohegan Sun

Day Two, 12/11/00
Few tribes share in casino windfall

Gaming success helps tribe gain community acceptance

California tribes hit the jackpot with gaming vote

Day Three, 12/12/00
It's a war of genealogies

Lineage questions linger as gaming wealth grows

Tribes scramble to get into the game

Day Four, 12/13/00
Tribes make easy criminal targets

Trump plays both sides in casino bids

Sections
Boston Globe Online: Page One
Nation | World
Metro | Region
Business
Sports
Living | Arts
Editorials

Weekly
Health | Science (Tue.)
Food (Wed.)
Calendar (Thu.)
Life at Home (Thu.)

Sunday
Automotive
Focus
Learning
Real Estate
Travel

Local news
City Weekly
Globe South
Globe West
North Weekly
NorthWest Weekly
New Hampshire

Features
Globe archives
Book Reviews
Book Swap
Columns
Comics
Crossword
Horoscopes
Death Notices
Lottery
Movie Reviews
Music Reviews
NetWatch weblog
Obituaries
Special Reports
Today's stories A-Z
TV & Radio
Weather

Classifieds
Autos
BostonWorks
Real Estate
Place an Ad


Buy a Globe photo

Help
E-mail addresses
Send us feedback

Alternative views
Low-graphics version
Acrobat version (.pdf)


The Boston Globe OnlineBoston.com Boston Globe Online / Nation | World

Tribal gamble

Nipmucs, company set plan on casino

By Sean P. Murphy, Globe Staff, 7/10/2001

The Minnesota company that has advanced millions of dollars to the Nipmuc Indians who plan to build a world-class casino along Interstate 84 near the Massachusetts-Connecticut line yesterday announced a partnership deal with the tribe.

Lakes Gaming Inc., a spinoff company from onetime casino giant Grand Casino, said it and the Nipmuc Nation Tribal Council had come to terms on a deal to develop and manage a casino. Under the agreement, Lakes will get 35 percent of net income from the casino for seven years.

''While there is no assurance that the Nipmuc's efforts will be successful, we are confident that a well-planned destination casino resort development would provide tremendous resources and benefits to the Nipmuc Nation, its people, and those in surrounding communities,'' said Lyle Berman, chairman of Lakes Gaming.

One obstacle to a casino is federal recognition. Nipmuc Indians have been recognized as a tribe by Massachusetts for hundreds of years, but not by the federal government, which requires such a designation before allowing gaming on tribal lands. Nipmucs have sought federal recognition for 30 years, but the government's genealogists last year determined the group had failed to show a continuous existence as tribe.

However, that determination was set aside by Michael J. Anderson, a political appointee to the US Bureau of Indian Affairs. Acting on the last day of the Clinton administration, he gave the Nipmucs preliminary approval as a tribe.

Upon taking office, the Bush administration ''froze'' Anderson's decision, and there the matter has stood for almost six months.

The tribal council, meanwhile, released a statement yesterday saying that Lake Gaming will continue to ''help with and fund'' the Nipmuc's ongoing federal recognition effort. The council said the money is repayable only if a casino is opened.

Lakes Gaming is now providing the 10-member council with $55,000 a month for expenses, including $800-a-month stipends or salaries per council member. Lakes Gaming is also paying for lawyers and lobbyists involved the deal.

Representatives of the Nipmucs have considered buying land in Sturbridge or across the stateline in Union, Conn., according to sources familiar with the group's plans.

Sean P. Murphy's email address is smurphy@globe.com.

This story ran on page B4 of the Boston Globe on 7/10/2001.
© Copyright 2001 Globe Newspaper Company.