Police Still Preventing Operation At NM Gaming Parlor

AKELA FLATS, N.M. — An indian casino just outside of Deming continued to stir up controversy for its operations that Governor Bill Richardson alleges are illegal.

Police officers are still positioned outside the Fort Sill Apache Casino at Akela Flats. The bingo parlor is still under construction, but state police officials said the casino’s management gathered their 80 employees at the site Thursday.

New Mexico state police said as many as 55 officers were at the location Wednesday evening after being instructed to block the entrance by Governor Richardson.

He said he was forced to prevent the access because he received no assurances from the federal government that it would approve or reject the tribe’s plan for a gaming operation.

The National Indian Gaming Commission ruled that if the casino attempted to open its doors today to ‘test its operation,’ the casino operations would be deemed illegal.

“[The] ruling is crucial, because it is our understanding that the Fort Sill Apaches were going to attempt to open the facility for a few hours today in an attempt to the legitimize the operation,” Governor Richardson said.

“The Gaming Commission’s letter makes it clear that federal officials will not recognize that move, and it will be considered illegal,” he added.

Tribal Chairman Jeff Houser said the governor had the wrong impression of the casino’s intent.

“Basically they got the mistaken impression that we were going to open early. They sent some supplies in a couple days ago. Members of the New Mexico Gaming Commission came in leading people to believe they were tribal gaming commission officials and they talked to employees and they got the wrong information,” Houser said.