Alaska Authorities Continue Fight against Eklutna Tribe’s Gaming Hall

Alaska recently saw the opening of its first tribal gaming hall, to local authorities’ dismay. The controversial property was greenlit in the final days of the Biden administration and many locals are not too happy about it.

This isn’t to say that the hall hasn’t been successful, though, as it has enjoyed plenty of interest since its launch earlier this year.

Eklutna Tribe’s Gaming Hall Is a Success

The Eklutna tribe’s Chin’an Gaming Hall is temporarily located in a doublewide trailer in Anchorage while its permanent counterpart is being constructed. Currently boasting some 85 bingo machines, the property has managed to attract many players.

The Chin’an Gaming Hall opened in January, a few days after the tribe received permission to proceed with its gaming plans. It was put together in under four days, offering locals the opportunity to play before the main hall launches.

In the meantime, the Eklutna Tribe is working on its permanent property, which would contain some 700 gaming machines and would also offer dining options.

However, the tribe’s early success hasn’t pleased opponents of its hall, who have questioned its legality.

The Hall Faces Scrutiny

As mentioned, the Eklutna tribe’s casino project was approved in the final days of the Biden administration, sparking scrutiny among its opponents.

For context, tribal gaming was prohibited for a long time. This started to change in July 2024, when the Department of the Interior’s interim solicitor, Robert Anderson, filed an opinion that focused on the status of tribal lands across Alaska.

Anderson suggested that Native American allotments can be governed by tribal jurisdictions with the only exception being the case when the land is not owned by a Tribal member. Anderson insisted that Alaska tribes could operate gaming as long as certain conditions were fulfilled. This paved the way for the launch of the gaming hall, which was officially approved by the National Indian Gaming Commission. The mayor of Anchorage also approved the project.

However, not everyone agreed with this decision. In February this year, the State of Alaska took legal action against the federal government filing a lawsuit in the US District Court for the District of Columbia and disputing Anderson’s read on the matter.

Now, the Alaska Attorney General asked a federal court in Washington DC to issue a preliminary injunction against the gaming operation of the Eklutna tribe. Deputy Attorney General Cori Mills emphasized that Alaska maintains primary jurisdiction over the land and emphasized that a solicitor’s opinion cannot convert Native allotments into Indian reservations.

The Challenges Have Been Disheartening

In the meantime, tribal officials admitted that the ongoing legal challenges have been disheartening. According to the Native Village of Eklutna’s president, Aaron Leggett, the attack on tribal sovereignty is sure to discourage other tribes from pursuing similar developments.

Despite that, the tribe will continue to operate the hall, at least for now. Officials have argued that the property would benefit the area by creating hundreds of jobs and generating millions of dollars in economic activity.

Proceeds from gaming, on the other hand, will fuel a variety of benefits, including healthcare, for tribe members.