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Virginia’s Pamunkey Indian Tribe said Tuesday that it’s willing to fast-track its planned casino in Norfolk by opening it under commercial gambling laws instead of waiting on federal approvals for a tribal casino.

The tribe is modifying its plans in an attempt to be involved in current General Assembly deliberations about possible casinos in Bristol, Danville and Portsmouth. The federal process for a tribal casino could take years, raising the possibility that the tribe’s project wouldn’t be ready to proceed until after other casinos are up and running.

Two lawmakers — Del. Barry Knight, R-Virginia Beach, and Sen. Lynwood Lewis, D-Accomack — will introduce legislation to allow the Pamunkey tribe to operate a commercial casino.

“As a federally recognized tribe with both the right to engage in gaming activities and the financial backing to make it happen, we believe that if the commonwealth is ready to authorize gaming, our project should be part of it,” Pamunkey Chief Robert Gray said in a statement.

“To consider other projects without taking into consideration the Pamunkey casino in Norfolk and the potential of additional Pamunkey casinos in Virginia would fail to take a much-needed comprehensive approach to gaming.”