(CLAY COUNTY, MINN) – Flag Family News has learned more about the process involved in bringing a casino into the state of Minnesota.
In earlier reporting, Flag Family News learned from a source that the White Earth Nation is building a casino and convention center near Moorhead. The White Earth Band of Chippewa bought more than 280 acres of land near the I-94 exit for Highway 336, according to Clay County Administrator Steve Larson.
DFL State Senator Rob Kupec told Flag Family News that he doesn’t believe ‘the tribe is ready to go public with plans.’
A source says two approvals are necessary for the project to move forward – if the project happens.
The first is an approval of the transfer of the land to a trust, which would be approved by the U.S. Department of the Interior. Without the trust, the tribe would be required to pay property taxes on the land.
A second approval would be for a gaming license.
Flag Family News has reached out to the Minnesota Gambling Control board to see if White Earth applied for a gaming license in Clay County, as well as to Minnesota Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith to see if the tribe reached out to them in regard to starting the process of building casino on non-tribal land, but neither group have yet to respond.
