A Martha’s Vineyard tribe piqued the interest of gamblers and gamers in November when it expressed its right and interest to build a casino on tribal land. The Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) might be hitting the breaks on their proposed casino bid after Cheryl Andrews-Maltais, champion of the proposition, was unseated as two-term chairperson of the tribe.

Andrews-Maltais presented what she considered approval to build a gaming facility just five days before the election that saw Tobias J. Vanderhoop be confirmed as the new chairman by a significant margin of 165-91, according to the Martha’s Vineyard Gazette.

The approval came in the form of a letter from the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) which considered the land in question to be eligible for gaming.

The Gazette notes further that Vanderhoop is a self-proclaimed proponent of gaming but has yet to off a position on the issue of a casino on the island off the coast of Cape Cod.

Recently, Vanderhoop spoke with WBUR saying “I am in favor of an appropriate gaming initiative for our people, but our people are the ones that have to define what is appropriate, and that discussion needs to really happen in a more in-depth way.”

Such an opinion should sound familiar to Bostonians especially as Mayor-elect Marty Walsh shared similar sentiments on the proposed casino at East Boston’s Suffolk Downs. Walsh mentioned that while he’d heed to the voice of the people, he wouldn’t particularly enjoy living right down the street from one. The East Boston casino bid was voted down considerably on November 5.

Vanderhoop will assume his role and full responsibilities in January at which time he may outline a position more boldly.