Gaming briefs for August 18, 2004

Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2004 | 11:17 a.m.

Wyandotte Nation ends claim

KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- The Wyandotte Nation has ended its pursuit of 1,920 acres of land near downtown, saying it won't appeal a dismissal of its claim.

The Indian tribe sued for the land in October 2002, citing tribal treaties from the 1800s, but that suit was thrown out by a federal judge last month. David McCullough, the attorney representing the Oklahoma tribe, acknowledged Monday that the chances of successfully advancing the suit were "remote."

"The lawsuit is over," he said. "We'll be looking at whether there is other recourse, besides legal action, against the U.S."

The announcement was a relief to many here, because the lawsuit clouded owners' titles to more than 4,000 parcels of land, which the tribe said was valued for tax purposes at $1.9 billion. The land along the Missouri River northeast of downtown comprises much of the city's Fairfax Industrial District, including the General Motors plant.

"It's good that it's come to an end," said Deryl Wynn, a lawyer here who represented several owners of small parcels. "It caused a lot of people anxiety. Most of these people were just regular folks."

The lawsuit was part of the tribe's nearly decade-long legal struggle to open a casino in Wyandotte County.

The tribe defied the city last year and opened a small casino in mobile units attached to a renovated Masonic Lodge building across the street from City Hall.

The casino was raided by state law enforcement officials and closed earlier this year. A separate suit filed by the tribe charges that raid was unlawful.

Cars searched as a precaution

ATLANTIC CITY -- The casino and hotel known for swank bars and showers built for two has a lesser-known feature: searches of patrons' cars.

A Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa spokesman said the measure -- which has also been used in places such as airports and the parking garage at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York -- has been implemented periodically since the Borgata opened in July 2003.

Carolyn Sullivan, who has been gambling two to three times a week at the casino since it opened, told the Press of Atlantic City for Tuesday's editions that her car's been searched only in the past few weeks.

"Now, every time we go there, somebody checks," said Sullivan, of Brigantine. "But I don't mind. It doesn't bother me."

Sullivan became aware of the searches about the time it was reported this month that al-Qaida terrorists had cased Las Vegas casinos in 1997.