A U.S. judge has ruled in favor of a federal agency’s approval of a newly built tribal casino on the outskirts of Anchorage.
The decision is a victory for the Native Village of Eklutna, which opened the Chin’an Gaming Hall in Birchwood early this year.
Several Birchwood residents had sued to stop the casino, arguing that the development would cause increased traffic and noise in a quiet neighborhood and challenging the Native Village of Eklutna’s authority to operate as a federally recognized tribe.
Judge James L. Robart disagreed with the resident’s contention that the tribe is not federally recognized, according to the 13-page decision issued in U.S. District Court in Alaska.
