Oklahoma: United Keetoowah Band moves closer to casino reopening following federal greenlight

The United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians (UKB) took a major step toward reestablishing its gaming operations after the U.S. Department of the Interior recognized the tribe as an equal successor to the Cherokee Nation’s reservation earlier this year, granting it the right to operate a casino.

The tribe’s original casino in Tahlequah was closed in 2013 following a lawsuit by the Cherokee Nation, which challenged the UKB’s legal standing on the land. However, a January memorandum from the Department of the Interior has now altered that landscape, affirming the UKB’s sovereign authority.

Following the memorandum, the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) approved the UKB’s newly drafted gaming ordinance, clearing a key regulatory hurdle necessary for the tribe to move forward with casino operations.

Tribal gaming ordinances, which govern how casinos are operated, including employee standards and payout rules, must receive federal approval before any gaming can legally take place.

"Our gaming ordinance being approved by the NIGC is a major first step in getting that accomplished," said Victoria Holland, an attorney and UKB delegate to Congress. "There are still several things that we're going to have to do to get a casino operational, but this is a big step for us, and we're hopeful to get those opportunities so that we can provide more services for our members."

Despite the progress, several obstacles remain. Chief among them is the tribe’s fee-to-trust application, a required process for placing land into trust status, which allows for gaming development under federal law.

"We can't really do anything until that land into trust application is approved for gaming on that site, and we're at the mercy of BIA on that timeline," said UKB Attorney General Klint Cowan. Cowan said the UKB recently received feedback from federal officials on its environmental assessment, indicating that the review process is actively moving forward.

Holland stated that the NIGC’s approval reflects more than just administrative progress, saying it reinforces the tribe’s sovereign rights. "It's exciting, because they didn't let it just sit there, and they didn't deny it," she said. "They actively approved it. So that's a big step for us."

The UKB plans to rebuild the casino at the original Tahlequah site, restoring a project that was halted more than a decade ago.