Thursday, Steve Wynn stated that media reports linking him to plans to construct a tribal casino near Disneyland in Orange County, California, are overblown.

Earlier this week the Los Angeles Times reported that a small San Diego County Indian tribe and Garden Grove, California city officials talked with Wynn about developing a huge resort on approximately 45 acres of city-controlled land about a mile-and-a-half away from Disneyland.

Wynn said the Orange County government officials and representatives of the Mesa Grande Band of Mission Indians went to Las Vegas around two months ago to feel out his possible interest in constructing a resort with casino gambling in Garden Grove.

No agreements were made, and Wynn said he will not get involved in trying to persuade California government officials to allow the Indian tribe to exchange its remote San Diego county land for the land in Garden Grove.

Federal law gives tribes the right to make such exchanges only if their existing land is economically unproductive, and Wynn said the tribe's isolated land, accessible by dirt road, definitely qualifies.

He said the lobbying effort must be made by the tribe and local government officials.

Wynn said he does think California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who is a friend, would approve a suburban Orange County casino site only if local communities and business interests signed off on the arrangement.

Wynn said he wasn't sure whether local government officials would support a project so close to Disneyland, but said he'd understand why the Walt Disney Co., owner of the theme park, wouldn't want a destination resort just blocks away. Not because of the gaming, but for sheer competition.

Wynn said the Garden Grove officials asked him to talk to Disney Chairman Michael Eisner to support the plan.

Wynn does not want to and won't call Eisner. He simply stated that his purpose is to develop only. He went on to say that he is interested in developing the resort in one of the county's most prosperous counties, he just does not want to operate it after it is built.