白地部落努力争取明尼苏达赌场扩张的可能

　　明尼苏达维京人球队需要一个新的球场，如果他们还想留在明尼苏达的话。在过去数年中，州府寻求多种途径帮助维京人球队筹建新球场，但最有效的措施莫过于近几个月批准的开设一间部分利润用于球场建设的赌场。第一次提出新开设赌场的议案没有在州里通过，现在由白地部落提出的替换方案被推出，实际上，维京人球队深受明尼苏达人爱戴是白地方案能够获准的根本原因。白底部落提议在明尼苏达开设一间赌场，他们估计这回带来每年3亿美元的利润，部落会拿出其中一部分上交州府，这正是州府感兴趣的，因为这并不仅仅是筹建新球场的短期行为，而会是一个长久的利益。白地女酋长艾玛表示关于开设新赌场的提案阻力很大，自从七年前类似的一个提案被否决后，包括白底部落在内再没有类似的提案。新赌场的对手们在去年年底曾联名上述欲确保州内赌博产业的格局不变，这些部落在州里拥有自己的赌场，他们一直竭力反对在州内新增赌场，他们的意见是：增加一间赌场并不会增加明尼苏达赌业的整体收入，而只是摊薄了现有赌场的利润。而维京人球队在大都会球场的租约到期促使州府抓紧筹建一间新球场，若非如此，今年就很可能是维京人队在明尼苏达的最后一年了。足联终将进行重新部署，而拉斯维加斯也正在竭力争取维京队去他们那里安家落户。

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　　Tribe Puts Spin On Possible Minnesota Casino Expansion

　　The Minnesota Vikings need a new stadium if they are going to stay in Minnesota. For the past couple of years, lawmakers have been searching for ways to help the Vikings fund their new stadium, and the most popular option in recent months has been to authorize a new casino in which a portion of the revenue goes towards the stadium funding.

　　The first attempt at passing a bill that would authorize the casino has failed in the state, and now alternative proposals are coming to the forefront. For the White Earth Tribe, the fact that the Vikings are endeared to the hearts of Minnesotans allows for an opportunity to push the tribe's own agenda.

　　The White Earth Tribe is proposing a casino in Minnesota that would, in their estimation, bring in $300 million in profit annually. The tribe is proposing an even split of the profits, something that state lawmakers may find intriguing, not only in the short term for the stadium, but in the long run as well.

　　White Earth Chairwoman Erma Vizenor acknowledges that the battle will be uphill to bring a casino to the reservation. Lawmakers have already discussed a similar proposal seven years ago that was defeated. Since then, no other proposal involving the White Earth Tribe has come up for a vote.

　　Opponents of a new casino in Minnesota lined up late last year in an effort to keep the current gambling structure in place. Several Minnesota tribes own casinos in the state, and they have been vehemently opposed to supporting any future expansion of the gaming industry. According to the tribe's, adding another casino would not create more revenue, it would simply spread out the existing gambling dollars.

　　The time frame for the state to expand and fund a Vikings stadium is beginning to tick. The teams lease at the Metrodome has expired, and without a new stadium, it is a strong possibility this year will be the last for the Vikings in Minnesota. Relocation has always been an option for NFL （足联）owners, and Los Angeles is actively seeking a franchise.