I don't feel bad for the tribe either, I would think Turtle Mountain is doing all right with their on-reservation casino and I believe they also are involved in horse racing up there.
I do feel bad for the Grand Forks area and the the upper Red River Valley as whole, because I really feel this would have had enormous economic impact to the area, and could have really given it a destination venue for adults between the ages of 20-55 or so, something GF is sorely lacking.
Hats off to the GF City Council, the GF area legislators, and the Turtle Mountain Band for be willing to explore this at the very least. In the long run, all of these potential dollars will likely end up going elsewhere.
What really frustrates me is that it seems it was stamped out by vocal legislators from other parts of the state.
Also, the whole narrative about protecting "charitable gaming" is such a joke. Seems many legislators don't want grown adults patronizing a gaming establishment that benefits a tribe, but are just fine with "charitable gaming" that funds old-man baseball & hockey leagues, shooting clubs, snowmobile clubs, curling clubs, etc.