A gaming compact was signed between the Governor of New Mexico – Susana Martinez – and Native American leaders several hours ago. The new contract comes after several weeks of anticipation as at the end of March Gov. Martinez explained that she holds the right not to approve such a deal between the State of New Mexico and the Fort Sill Apache Tribe.
The newly-signed compact is to expire in 22 years. It is to provide tribal casinos in the area with the opportunity to run gambling activities in case it is approved by the federal government. The next step for the contract is to be passed for review to the US Department of Interior. It needs the latter’s final approval in order to come into effect.
The announcement of the arrangement was made at the Governor’s office after the leaders of the five Native American tribes – the Mascalero Apache Tribe, the Pueblo of Jemez, the Jicarilla Apache Nation, the Navajo Nation, and the Pueblo of Acoma – gathered there.
The Pueblo of Jemez still does not have a casino, unlike the rest of the five tribes, which compacts are due to expire on June 30th.
The negotiations between the state of New Mexico and the leaders of the five tribes have been on the agenda for three years. Now, the recently-inked compact will make the local Native American tribes hand over reports on their gaming activities to the state on a regular basis.
This is how the state will be given the opportunity to join forces with the tribes when it comes to resolving any problems. The regulatory authorities of the state of New Mexico will also be provided with a better access to some data, which according to the office of Gov. Martinez, is expected to guarantee that all parties are to comply with the terms of the agreement.
The compact is also expected to be signed by some of the other New Mexico tribes. It is considered to offer more advantageous and beneficial conditions to the tribes in comparison to their current ones.
The 22-year gambling contract was approved by the Legislature back in March, 2015. However, Gov. Martinez told the Supreme Court of New Mexico at the end of March that she was given the authority to deny the compact with the tribes because they had not been federally empowered to offer gambling services and activities on its reservation.
Earlier this year, the local tribes had filed a request to the state’s Supreme Court to make the Governor sign the gambling contract that would offer more favorable terms than their current ones.
After inking the agreement, Governor Martinez stated that the new compact is considered to preserve the “stability and predictability of gaming” in the state. She also commented on the contract, saying that it is to meet the individual requirements of the tribes that operate casinos on the territory of the state.
