COWLITZ PROJECT	9 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2015
Cowlitz Project
Schedule of Long-term Development Projects [Line Items]
COWLITZ PROJECT	COWLITZ PROJECT: In September 2004, Salishan-Mohegan entered into development and management agreements with the Cowlitz Tribe in connection with the Cowlitz Project, which agreements have been amended from time to time. Under the terms of the development agreement, Salishan-Mohegan will assist in securing financing, as well as administer and oversee the planning, designing, development, construction and furnishing of the proposed casino. The development agreement provides for development fees of 3% of total project costs, as defined under the development agreement. Under the terms of Salishan-Mohegan's operating agreement, development fees will be distributed to Mohegan Ventures-NW. In 2006, pursuant to the development agreement, Salishan-Mohegan purchased an approximately 152-acre site for the proposed casino. Under the terms of the management agreement, Salishan-Mohegan will manage, operate and maintain the proposed casino for a period of seven years following its opening. The management agreement provides for management fees of 24% of net revenues, as defined under the management agreement, which approximates net income earned from the Cowlitz Project. Under the terms of Salishan-Mohegan’s operating agreement, management fees will be allocated to the members of Salishan-Mohegan based on their respective membership interests. The management agreement is subject to approval by the National Indian Gaming Commission. In August 2014, the Cowlitz Tribe’s Class III Tribal-State gaming compact with the State of Washington became effective with notice of federal approval published in the Federal Register. According to the notice, the compact allows for two gaming facilities, allocates 975 gaming machines for leasing, authorizes the operation of up to 3,000 gaming machines and 125 table games, and is in effect until terminated by written agreement of both parties. Under the terms of the development agreement, certain receivables contributed to Salishan-Mohegan and amounts advanced by Salishan-Mohegan on behalf of the Cowlitz Tribe are reimbursable to Salishan-Mohegan by the Cowlitz Tribe, subject to appropriate approvals defined under the development agreement. Reimbursements are contingent and are to be distributed upon: (1) the related property being taken into trust by the United States Department of the Interior and (2) the receipt of necessary financing for the development of the proposed casino. The Authority currently accrues interest on the Salishan-Mohegan receivables at an annual rate of 10.0%. In March 2013, two lawsuits challenging a December 2010 decision of the Assistant Secretary - Indian Affairs of the Department of the Interior to take the Cowlitz Project site into trust were dismissed on procedural grounds. In April 2013, pursuant to judicial directive, the Department of the Interior issued a new Record of Decision to take the Cowlitz Project site into trust, determining for a second time that the site will serve as the initial reservation of the Cowlitz Tribe and that the tribe may conduct gaming on such lands under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. In June 2013, the plaintiffs in the earlier litigation filed two new lawsuits challenging the new Record of Decision, and, in July 2013, those lawsuits were consolidated. By Notice of Trust Acquisition filed with the court on October 22, 2014, while motions for summary judgment filed by the plaintiffs and the defendants were pending, the defendants provided the court notice of the United States Department of the Interior’s planned trust acquisition of the Cowlitz Project site, which was the subject of the litigation, on the earlier of: (1) January 21, 2015 and (2) 30 days after a court order granting summary judgment in favor of the defendants. On December 12, 2014, a U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia judge entered an order granting summary judgment in favor of the defendants, thereby upholding the Record of Decision and denying the plaintiffs’ motion. In December 2014 and February 2015, the plaintiffs filed separate appeals to the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. In February 2015, those appeals were consolidated by the Court of Appeals. In March 2015, the Cowlitz Project site was taken into trust by the United States Department of the Interior for the benefit of the Cowlitz Tribe. In connection with this event, the Cowlitz Tribe leased a substantial portion of the Cowlitz Project site back to Salishan-Mohegan for a nominal rental fee. The initial term of the lease is 25 years with an option to extend the term for two additional 25-year periods. Under the lease, upon financing of the Cowlitz Project, Salishan-Mohegan shall assign the lease to the Cowlitz Tribe. If the Cowlitz Project does not proceed due to a final court determination that the site is not eligible for gaming, upon payment of certain consideration, the Cowlitz Tribe may purchase the leasehold interest in the premises and terminate the lease. The carrying value of the land totaling approximately $20.0 million, which was included in property and equipment, net, in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2014, was transferred to the Cowlitz Tribe at the time the site was taken into trust. This transfer resulted in an additional long-term receivable due from the Cowlitz Tribe as permitted under the development agreement, and was included in other assets, net, in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet as of June 30, 2015. Development of the Cowlitz Project remains subject to certain remaining governmental and regulatory approvals and agreements. The Authority can provide no assurance that the remaining steps and conditions for the Cowlitz Project site to be approved for gaming will be satisfied or that necessary financing for the development of the proposed casino will be obtained. Furthermore, the Authority can provide no assurance as to the outcome of the pending federal court appeal or any future litigation relating to the Cowlitz Project. Please refer to the Authority’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2014 and its other reports and filings with the SEC for further information and details regarding the Cowlitz Project.

COWLITZ PROJECT:

In September 2004, Salishan-Mohegan entered into development and management agreements with the Cowlitz Tribe in connection with the Cowlitz Project, which agreements have been amended from time to time.

Under the terms of the development agreement, Salishan-Mohegan will assist in securing financing, as well as administer and oversee the planning, designing, development, construction and furnishing of the proposed casino. The development agreement provides for development fees of 3% of total project costs, as defined under the development agreement. Under the terms of Salishan-Mohegan's operating agreement, development fees will be distributed to Mohegan Ventures-NW. In 2006, pursuant to the development agreement, Salishan-Mohegan purchased an approximately 152-acre site for the proposed casino.

Under the terms of the management agreement, Salishan-Mohegan will manage, operate and maintain the proposed casino for a period of seven years following its opening. The management agreement provides for management fees of 24% of net revenues, as defined under the management agreement, which approximates net income earned from the Cowlitz Project. Under the terms of Salishan-Mohegan’s operating agreement, management fees will be allocated to the members of Salishan-Mohegan based on their respective membership interests. The management agreement is subject to approval by the National Indian Gaming Commission. In August 2014, the Cowlitz Tribe’s Class III Tribal-State gaming compact with the State of Washington became effective with notice of federal approval published in the Federal Register. According to the notice, the compact allows for two gaming facilities, allocates 975 gaming machines for leasing, authorizes the operation of up to 3,000 gaming machines and 125 table games, and is in effect until terminated by written agreement of both parties.

Under the terms of the development agreement, certain receivables contributed to Salishan-Mohegan and amounts advanced by Salishan-Mohegan on behalf of the Cowlitz Tribe are reimbursable to Salishan-Mohegan by the Cowlitz Tribe, subject to appropriate approvals defined under the development agreement. Reimbursements are contingent and are to be distributed upon: (1) the related property being taken into trust by the United States Department of the Interior and (2) the receipt of necessary financing for the development of the proposed casino. The Authority currently accrues interest on the Salishan-Mohegan receivables at an annual rate of 10.0%.

In March 2013, two lawsuits challenging a December 2010 decision of the Assistant Secretary - Indian Affairs of the Department of the Interior to take the Cowlitz Project site into trust were dismissed on procedural grounds. In April 2013, pursuant to judicial directive, the Department of the Interior issued a new Record of Decision to take the Cowlitz Project site into trust, determining for a second time that the site will serve as the initial reservation of the Cowlitz Tribe and that the tribe may conduct gaming on such lands under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. In June 2013, the plaintiffs in the earlier litigation filed two new lawsuits challenging the new Record of Decision, and, in July 2013, those lawsuits were consolidated. By Notice of Trust Acquisition filed with the court on October 22, 2014, while motions for summary judgment filed by the plaintiffs and the defendants were pending, the defendants provided the court notice of the United States Department of the Interior’s planned trust acquisition of the Cowlitz Project site, which was the subject of the litigation, on the earlier of: (1) January 21, 2015 and (2) 30 days after a court order granting summary judgment in favor of the defendants. On December 12, 2014, a U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia judge entered an order granting summary judgment in favor of the defendants, thereby upholding the Record of Decision and denying the plaintiffs’ motion. In December 2014 and February 2015, the plaintiffs filed separate appeals to the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. In February 2015, those appeals were consolidated by the Court of Appeals.

In March 2015, the Cowlitz Project site was taken into trust by the United States Department of the Interior for the benefit of the Cowlitz Tribe. In connection with this event, the Cowlitz Tribe leased a substantial portion of the Cowlitz Project site back to Salishan-Mohegan for a nominal rental fee. The initial term of the lease is 25 years with an option to extend the term for two additional 25-year periods. Under the lease, upon financing of the Cowlitz Project, Salishan-Mohegan shall assign the lease to the Cowlitz Tribe. If the Cowlitz Project does not proceed due to a final court determination that the site is not eligible for gaming, upon payment of certain consideration, the Cowlitz Tribe may purchase the leasehold interest in the premises and terminate the lease.

The carrying value of the land totaling approximately $20.0 million, which was included in property and equipment, net, in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2014, was transferred to the Cowlitz Tribe at the time the site was taken into trust. This transfer resulted in an additional long-term receivable due from the Cowlitz Tribe as permitted under the development agreement, and was included in other assets, net, in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet as of June 30, 2015.

Development of the Cowlitz Project remains subject to certain remaining governmental and regulatory approvals and agreements. The Authority can provide no assurance that the remaining steps and conditions for the Cowlitz Project site to be approved for gaming will be satisfied or that necessary financing for the development of the proposed casino will be obtained. Furthermore, the Authority can provide no assurance as to the outcome of the pending federal court appeal or any future litigation relating to the Cowlitz Project. Please refer to the Authority’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2014 and its other reports and filings with the SEC for further information and details regarding the Cowlitz Project.