The Sutton-based Nipmuc group recently signed a deal with aMidwest casino company but needs official tribal status open alimited gaming hall. State approval would have been needed to offerslot machines, which are generally are a casino's biggestmoneymakers. But the Nipmuc Nation had hinted that if plans for acasino here were blocked, the tribe would open up just over theline in Union, Conn., which would deprive the state of millions ofdollars in tax revenues.

According to a released statement by the BIA, the Nipmucs failedto satisfy four of the seven requirements needed to receive federalrecognition. The Dudley Nipmucs failed to satisfy three of theseven requirements. The news is a real blow to the Nation, whichhad received recognition as one of the final acts of the Clintonadministration just. The decision overrode the negativerecommendations by the Bureau of Acknowledgement and Research. TheBush administration slapped a hold on the recognition. Both nationshave 180 days to appeal the decision.

There has been intense local opposition to a casino here andresidents are keeping their fingers crossed throughout the appealsprocess. ""We were somewhat relieved but we'll continue to monitorthe situation", Jim Malloy, town administrator, tells GlobeSt.com.According to Malloy, both tribes said they would be submittingadditional information to the BIA. "The Nipmucs from Sutton need tosatisfy four additional requirements so some of those will bepretty hard to get over," notes Malloy. As far as whether theDudley group has any interest in developing a casino, Malloy saysthat they've "been awfully quiet" about the idea.