Native village expanding temporary Birchwood casino as legal questions remain unanswered
The Native Village of Eklutna is expanding its temporary casino in Birchwood, Alaska, despite ongoing legal challenges and unresolved questions about a permanent facility.Summary
The Native Village of Eklutna is expanding its temporary Chin’an Gaming Hall in Birchwood, nearly doubling its size to accommodate 90 additional electronic gaming machines and an outdoor food truck. This expansion comes as the village seeks to sell alcohol at the site, having purchased the Birchwood Saloon and initiating a liquor license transfer. While the village hopes to eventually build a 58,000-square-foot permanent casino, plans are stalled due to lawsuits from Birchwood residents and a shifting federal policy regarding tribal gaming authority. The expansion of the temporary facility is intended to meet customer demand and provide increased resources for tribal members, despite the legal uncertainties. The village maintains it is a responsible community partner and is prepared to operate within regulations, including those related to alcohol sales.
(Source：Anchorage Daily News)