Second Indian casino approved

Wednesday, March 8, 2000 | 11:12 a.m.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

PHILADELPHIA, Miss. -- Members of the Mississippi Band of Choctaws decided to support a second casino being built on their land.

The vote reached the 40 percent turnout needed to become official and 1,007 voters chose not to vote down the resolution to 681 who wanted it struck down.

The "No" vote means a go-ahead with plans to construct a $288 million facility tentatively named the Golden Moon.

The Tribal Council approved a second casino by a vote of 10-6 on Sept. 23, but a petition signed by almost 1,200 tribal members forced a referendum on the issue.

Golden Moon casino will feature 90,000 square feet of gambling space, a 600-room hotel and an 80-foot-diameter golden globe restaurant atop the building.

The Choctaws already own and operate the Silver Star, the state's only land-based casino. It has been expanded three times since it opened.

The second casino will be located near the Silver Star on Highway 16 east.

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