The city council in Council Bluffs, Iowa is planning to go to court to prevent the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska from building a casino on tribal land in nearby Carter Lake. The National Indian Gaming Commission recently issued an order affirming a 2007 decision allowing the casino, which the tribe has been pursuing for a decade. Council members are concerned the proposed tribal casino would take businesses from Council Bluff’s three casinos.
Council Bluffs Mayor Matt Walsh said, “We are going to file a lawsuit. We feel it would be detrimental to Council Bluffs and the state of Iowa.” He pointed out the casino, being tribal-owned, would not be required to pay casino tax revenue to the state or city, like other operations. Council Bluffs City Attorney Richard Wade vowed to stop the Ponca proposal, adding, “We will be putting together a group of attorneys that have the right experience. We’ll probably be looking beyond this region and looking for some folks that have hands-on knowledge of the Indian Gaming Act and how the National Indian Gaming Commission operates.”
Carter Lake Mayor Gerald Waltrip said Council Bluffs and Omaha officials treat Carter Lake like “a punching bag. I don’t recall us ever interfering when Council Bluffs built three casinos.”
But incoming Carter Lake Mayor Ron Cumberledge added he did not understand why Council Bluffs would spend tax dollars to fight a business in another community. “I think it’s a win-win for everybody involved,” he said, noting the proposed casino would bring 1,500 jobs to the area.
The Ponca development would offer 2,000 slot machines and 50 table games, and a 150-room hotel.
Walsh said Council Bluffs will receive $3 million in casino tax revenue this year.
