A casino in Whitehorse and a collective first nations gambling commission is needed in the territory.

James Allen, chief of the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations (CAFN), said in a recent interview he would like to sit down with the government to discuss a first nations-run casino in the territory but has found the government less than receptive.

'We would really like to talk to the territorial government to set something up where everybody benefits,' he told the Star.

Premier Dennis Fentie and members of his cabinet don't appear interested in discussing the issue, the chief added.

Allen said his government has had a feasibility study done to assess the viability of a small casino on CAFN settlement land just outside city limits.

It has also discussed setting up a casino or bingo hall in Whitehorse in co-operation with other first nations such as the Kwanlin Dun and Ta'an Kwatch'an Council.

'We had to look for partners,' Allen said. 'We're all interested in looking at gambling.'

Allen said there have also been discussions of approaching the federal government in Ottawa to gain the same kind of status that provinces and territories have in relation to gambling.

'The Criminal Code under section 55 states that gaming is illegal in Canada but they've amended that to allow provinces and territories to look into gaming. That's the same privileges we want as a first nation government.'

First nations, he added, should consider just building a large-scale casino or bingo hall on settlement land, then dealing with the government after the fact.

'If we build it, they will come,' Allen said.

First nations, he said, have a right to build a casino on their own land and could use the money to address some of the social problems they're facing.

'The reason we've been going after gaming at CAFN is one: we have a lot of social needs. We have housing needs and education needs, and all the revenue that has so far come from gaming has not been returned to first nations to help our situations

'The questions that the governments and the public comes up with is: what are you going to do with the problem gamblers?

'To us, we would deal with it from the profits. We would identify a certain amount of funds to deal with that; I don't really see the federal government doing that,' Allen said.

'Our members are the ones that fill 80 per cent of the seats in the bingo halls and we don't see any return from that. Nor do we see any returns from the lottery ... I don't see the Yukon government addressing any of the gambling issues.'

First nations, he added, should receive 100 per cent of the profit from any first nation-run casino.

In an interview last week, Fentie said his party has no intention of pursuing a first nation casino initiative, but is willing to discuss the issue.

'This government has no plans to expand gaming in the territory, but we are open to discuss this matter in the context of the Yukon Forum,' he said.

The Forum is a partnership between the Yukon government and first nations to discuss issues of importance to all Yukoners.

Liberal Leader Arthur Mitchell said he does not support expanding gambling in the territory because his party doesn't.

'The Liberal policy is completely against expanding gambling in the territory,' Mitchell said.

'The party has voted on this issue in the past, and, unless the party changes its policy, that's the policy we have.

'I'm not convinced it does as much good as harm,' he said.

Speaking from his hospital room in Vancouver, where he's being treated for leukemia, NDP Leader Todd Hardy said he cannot support more gambling in the territory either.

'The party's position, and the position I have to follow as leader, is that we do not support expanding gaming in the territory.'

'It's been discussed and debated for many, many years and we don't support it.'

Hardy said he feels there is credible information coming from studies proving that gambling causes more social ills than benefits.

Gambling, he added, damages the social fabric of communities.

'I don't believe it strengthens the social fabric of a community as much as harms it.

'The trade-off would be too great,' he said.