BISMARCK – A portion of a state Senate bill that included language to move forward a casino proposal in Grand Forks County failed in a Wednesday House vote, likely ending the plan for the conceivable future.
Senate Bill 2018, an appropriations bill, included language that sought to allow the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa the ability to expand its casino operation beyond current tribal land. Existing state law mandates that the tribe cannot move outside of its traditional boundary. An earlier bill, SB 2376, specifically addressed the potential change
but it failed in a 29-15 Senate vote
in February.
In March, the proposal was inserted into a Senate Bill 2018. At the time, state Rep. Emily O’Brien, R-Grand Forks,
because she considered it an “opportunity for the state to support local and tribal (economic development).” She said the state shouldn’t stand in the way of what she considers local development decisions.
The proposal was only to let the casino plan move forward, and was not the final say on whether it would be built. Various other approvals — and from various levels, ranging from city to federal — would have been needed prior to construction.
On Wednesday, the House voted 66-26 against SB 2018’s Division C, where the proposal was inserted.
Prior to the vote, several members of the House debated the casino’s merits, with O’Brien notably speaking in favor and others against.
“For generations, tribal nations have fought for the right to self govern and build their own economies and to provide for the people with dignity and independence,” she said. “Under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, tribal casinos are not just entertainment venues, but engines of opportunity. They fund schools, health care clinics, housing, addiction treatment and public safety on reservations, where those needs are urgent and under-resourced.
“This is not a handout.”
But some felt the casino would open the possibility of tribes branching outward en masse while potentially having an adverse effect on the state’s charitable gaming industry.
Grand Forks Republican Rep. Nels Christianson said “compromise” and “balance” with gambling already exist in North Dakota. He believes that allowing expansion of American Indian gaming outside of a tribe’s borders would jeopardize that balance.
“A casino in Grand Forks County upsets that great consensus. Let us not have any misconceptions about this: A casino in Grand Forks will mean, eventually, a big casino adjacent to each large city in our state,” he said. “This means money leaving our community and each tribe will feel the need to upstage the next for the best location adjacent to another North Dakota community.”
He added: “The proposed casino in Grand Forks County represents a giant monster sucking the lifeblood and earnings out of our community. I stand against this monster and I seek to slay it.”
Rep. Matthew Heilman, R-Bismarck, wondered aloud if allowing the proposal to move forward would be detrimental to the existing charitable gaming industry.
“I’m not really sure,” he said, answering his own question. “But I don’t want to find out. …”
O’Brien specifically addressed charitable gaming during her short speech on the House floor. She said she supports the industry; meanwhile, she said, North Dakota charitable gaming has grown in recent years.
“As of Dec. 31, 2024, there are five tribal casinos in North Dakota, compared to 328 licensed gaming entities, which includes 846 sites and 5,250 e-tab machines,” she said. “These machines are easily accessible at our local restaurants, bars and fraternal clubs. And in 2022 alone, charitable gaming generated more than $1.7 billion – that’s a 560% increase in just five years.”
At the same time, she said, tribal casinos are confined to traditional areas and thus are being “boxed out” as other gambling grows.
“They are held to a stricter set of rules, bound by federal oversight and denied the ability to expand or relocate under state law. This is not equity and it’s not balance,” O’Brien said. “Both (industries) deserve our support.”
During his testimony, Rep. Mike Nathe, R-Bismarck, said he has received numerous emails from charitable organizations “that the sky is falling.”
“The more charitable gaming emails I get, the more I want to investigate these guys,” he said.
Rep. Lawrence Klemen, R-Bismarck, said the casino proposal reminds him of the failed Fufeng proposal. Announced in 2021and abandoned in 2023, the plan called for the China-backed company to build a corn mill on the edge of the city. It was abandoned when the Air Force declared the project a potential threat to national security.
“Well, I think I’ve heard enough from the city of Grand Forks on this subject. I don’t think we should be approving what they do in the name of economic development,” he said.
Later in the session, O’Brien rose to address “hurtful” comments.
“Our discussion should focus on the merits of the issue at hand and not on questioning each other’s motives,” she said, reminding members about decorum. “… While I would accept an apology, the damage has been done and I expect more from this chamber.”
According to a report filed Thursday by Forum Communications columnist Rob Port
, Klemen did email an apology to O’Brien and Rep. Jayme Davis, R-Rolette, who is a member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa.
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