After opposing efforts by the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) to build a Class II casino on Martha’s Vineyard, and finally losing after a ruling by the Supreme Court ended all hope of appeal, selectmen of the town of Aquinnah say they now want to work with the tribe in achieving its goal.
Selectmen Jim Newman urged that the panel not wait before sending a letter to the tribe. “We want to cooperate with the tribe and talk about this casino. Are they going to want our services?” He added, “What can we do to help?”
The tribe recently announced that it would be partnering with Global Gaming Solutions, which is a subsidiary of the Oklahoma Chickasaw nation, to build its casino. No details are known.
The long court case between the tribe on one side and the town and state on the other derived from the fact that the tribe acquired its land under a federal land settlement in 1987 whereby the tribe signed an agreement that it would never use the land for gaming. However, when the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act was adopted the following year, it superseded any agreement the tribe made—so ruled the courts.
The tribe is prevented to operating a Class III casino without a compact with the state, but because IGRA guarantees Class II gaming by right, nothing can stop them.
