The U.S. House is expected to vote on two bills by the end of June — H R. 2176 and H.R. 4115 — that would allow Indian tribes in Michigan to bypass federal procedures and build casinos 350 miles off their reservation lands.
Chad Hills, analyst for gambling research and policy at Focus on the Family Action, said the legislation would allow other tribes to follow suit.
“These bills would authorize the largest expansion of off-reservation gambling in the history of Indian gambling,” he said. “If we crack this door open an inch, tribal gambling interests will blow the door off its hinges.”
Focus on the Family has sent a letter to Congress urging House members to protect families from gambling expansion.
“Families throughout America are saying, ‘Enough!’” the letter reads. “We cannot allow wealthy, unaccountable tribal gambling interests to destroy more communities and families that never even get to vote on tribal casinos.”
