The Navajo Nation is pushing for a new gambling compact with New Mexico that would allow for three more casinos and less revenue sharing.
Navajo President Ben Shelly told members of the Legislative Finance Committee on Friday that revamping the existing compact would be a win for both his tribe and the state.
Shelly says the tribe's gambling operation — which includes casinos in New Mexico and Arizona — employs 950 people and could be a source of more jobs in the future. He also says a long-term agreement would make it easier to get outside financing for projects.
The current compact will expire in 2015.
The Navajos have been working on compact revisions for years, but the effort was derailed in the final days of the last legislative session.
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