Press Releases

Today, U.S. Congressman Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-04) released the following statement after testifying before the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs Oversight Hearing on the future of Indian gaming and the need for passage of H.R. 1410:

“TheTohono O’odham Nation’s dismissal of their promise to build no additional casinos in Phoenix is not something that Congress can ignore when the result will be so harmful to what had been a national model. 

“It is vital for Congress to pass the Keep the Promise Act, sponsored by my good friend and colleague Congressman Trent Franks (R-AZ), that ensures the promise of no additional casinos in the Phoenix area is kept until the existing tribal-state gaming compacts expire, without interfering in the trust acquisition itself. No entity, governmental or otherwise, should be rewarded for deceptive conduct that violates a compact and is contrary to the will of voters.”

The transcript of Congressman Gosar’s testimony can be found HERE.

(Rep. Gosar testifying before the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs seated next to Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-AZ)

Background:

In return for exclusivity in Arizona, the tribes agreed to a cap on the number of casinos in the state and in the Phoenix metro area, to restrict the number of machines in the state and to share machine revenue with rural non-gaming tribes so all could benefit.

Every urban tribe, except for Tohono O’odham, agreed to this limitation. Tohono O’odham refused, citing the need for a new casino in Tucson or on the rural part of the tribe’s reservation.

The state and other tribes finally agreed to the restrictions on gaming being pushed by Arizona’s Governor and others, but also yielded to Tohono O’odham’s stated need. 

After the agreement was reached, the tribes and state promoted their model compact by saturating the airwaves with press releases, voter handouts, billboards, and in television and radio interviews. Tohono O’odham alone spent $1.8 million dollars urging Arizona voters to rely on the limitation which included no additional casinos in the Phoenix area.

However, in 2001, while negotiations were ongoing and unbeknownst to everyone, Tohono O’odham had begun efforts to find land in the Phoenix area to open their fourth casino in violation of the 17-tribe coalition compact.

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