State Examining Tribal Gaming Investigators
July 29, 2005

A recent article in the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported that efforts by the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma to open casinos in Ohio have been supported by the financial contributions of approximately fifty private investors. The Cincinnati Enquirer reported that the Tribe refused to disclose the identities of the investors, but went as far as to indicate that between two and four of the investors were not Ohioans, and that none of the investment money has come from out-of-state gaming interests.

Much of the money was raised by "A Piece of the Action, LLC," a corporation formed to secure capital investments in Ohio tribal gaming, the Plain Dealer Reported. State Auditor Betty Montgomery has asked the Ohio Division of Securities to investigate the corporation. The division is looking to see whether the corporation was registered to sell securities in Ohio.

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Tribe Sues On Land Claims
July 29, 2005

The Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma has finally filed suit to recover 146 square miles of Western Ohio that the Tribe claims was illegally taken hundreds of years ago, according to an article in the Akron Beacon Journal. According to the article, the Tribe's attorney indicated that the purpose of the suit wasn't to take back the land, but to force the state into settlement negotiations that would involve opening casinos in the state. In addition to the land, the Tribe is also seeking recovery of taxes and other revenues the State has collected since the land was seized.

The Beacon Journal reported that Attorney General Jim Petro was not concerned that the suit would succeed, and promised to fight to keep casino gaming out of the state.

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