NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS
September 11, 1995
For Immediate Release
Oneida Nation Wins "Instant Multi-Game" Lawsuit
ONEIDA INDIAN TERRITORY, via Oneida, NY -- A federal court
in Albany today threw out New York State's lawsuit against the
Oneida Indian Nation over "Instant Multi- Game" on the grounds that
the state's suit had no merit.
The Oneida Nation introduced "Instant Multi-Game," a video gaming
technology that provides a slot machine-like experience, in March
1995. The State filed its suit against the Nation on April 25, saying
that the Nation had not received appropriate approval for the new
game under the process specified by the Nation-State gaming
compact. The Nation, in a statement that same day, labeled the State's
suit "frivolous" and said it had received the appropriate approvals for
the new game in November 1994.
"Today's action by the federal court vindicates our position," said
Ray Halbritter, Nation Representative and Chief Executive Officer of
Nation Enterprises. "Clearly, we followed the appropriate process in
gaming approval for "Instant Multi-Game," just as we have each of
the 20 other times we have sought amendments to the Nation/State
gaming compact. We are very pleased that the federal court
recognized this."
Keller George, First Representative of the Oneida Indian Nation
Gaming Commission, also noted that the decision was a victory. "We
are pleased with this outcome and believe it supports the integrity of
our operation. We always attended to abide by the law. We did abide
by the law and this ruling substantiates that."
Under federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act provisions, states are
able to direct disputes over gaming issues to the federal level. There
has been no additional word from New York whether it will do so.
For more information, contact Diane Stirling, Director of Nation
Communications, Ken Zeszutko, media coordinator, Oneida Nation
Communications Department, (315) 829-3090 or send email to
umstead@oneida-nation.org. This article is also available on the Nation's
Home page at http://nysernet.org/oneida/
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Daniel Umstead * The Oneida Indian Nation
Internet Coordinator *
Oneida Indian Nation * "The first Indian Nation on
315-361-6300 *
315-361-6333 (fax) * the World Wide Web"
umstead@oneida-nation.org *
* URL - http://nysernet.org/oneida/
*
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