Editing Shinnecock Reservation (section)

== Tribal recognition and gambling prospects ==
The Shinnecock Nation formally requested federal recognition from the United States government in 1978 and received it in 2010. Recognition was supported by New York Governor [[David Paterson]].

This enabled the tribe to move forward with its plans for a casino; it has already been discussing this with the state and local governments. Opposition to additional casinos in the New York market is based in part on dilution of demand: both the [[Foxwoods Resort Casino|Foxwoods Casino]] in [[Connecticut]] and those in [[Atlantic City, New Jersey]] attract thousands of New Yorkers, and [[Aqueduct Racetrack]] opened a casino in 2011,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rwnewyork.com/page|title=Resorts World Casino New York City – New York Casino|website=www.rwnewyork.com|accessdate=Mar 30, 2020}}</ref> and its proximity to the wealthy and powerful located in the neighboring [[Hamptons]] communities of the [[South Fork, Suffolk County, New York|South Fork]]. 

The Nation has been in discussion with state and local officials on plans to build a [[Indian Gaming Regulatory Act#Class III|Class III casino]], as it wants to generate revenues for economic development and welfare for the tribe. It would share revenues with the state for such an enterprise off the reservation. The tribe and other parties prefer a location out of the Hamptons area, which is already bogged down with heavy traffic during the summer season, when the population of the Town of Southampton doubles.<ref name="nytrecog">[https://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/16/nyregion/16shinnecock.html?hp&_r=0 DANNY HAKIM, "U.S. Recognizes an Indian Tribe on Long Island, Clearing the Way for a Casino"], ''New York Times'', 16 June 2010, accessed 20 October 2014</ref> In addition, they would face heavy competition on eastern Long Island, as New Yorkers make up 30% of the customers of the highly successful [[Mohegan Sun Casino|Mohegan Sun]] and [[Foxwoods Casino|Foxwoods]] Casinos in Connecticut.<ref name="nytrecog"/>

The Shinnecock Indian Nation and their partners (Gateway Casino Resorts, LLC and [[Michael J. Malik Sr.]] dba MJM Enterprises and MJM Enterprises & Development) paid D.C. lobbyists $1,140,000 from 2005 to 2009 to support their effort to gain recognition and approved gaming.<ref name="nytrecog"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://sopr.senate.gov/cgi-win/m_opr_viewer.exe?DoFn=0 |title=US Lobby Registration & Reporting Disclosure Page |accessdate=2006-12-21 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20061215212513/http://sopr.senate.gov/cgi-win/m_opr_viewer.exe?DoFn=0 |archivedate=2006-12-15 }}</ref>