State, Meskwakis reach agreement

The state concluded negotiations on a new Indian Gaming compact last night. This new compact with the operators of the Meskwaki Casino in Tama replaces the old one that expired and negotiations dragged on for several weeks. The compact is needed to run the Indian gaming operation, and provisions of the new agreement remain confidential for now. Steve Young of Iowa’s Department of Inspections and Appeals and tribal chairman Homer Bear released a joint statement saying only that the agreement was successfully concluded and after its review by the U-S Department of the Interior which oversees the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs will details be released.