VANCOUVER, Wash. (AP) -- The city of Vancouver, Wash., has gone to federal court to try to block one piece to the Cowlitz Tribe's multi-prong approach toward building a big casino in north Clark County.

The lawsuit was filed on Friday in U.S. District Court.

KTVB file photo

A visitor plays a casino game.

It seeks to overturn the National Indian Gaming Commission's Jan. 8 decision approving a gaming ordinance the Cowlitz Tribe adopted following the loss of its 2004 memorandum of understanding with Clark County.

The gaming ordinance includes provisions of an invalidated memorandum of understanding with Clark County and gives the county legal authority to sue if the tribe doesn't live up to its commitments.

The city's lawsuit, however, does signal Vancouver's intent to make good on its promise to attempt to block the Cowlitz casino.

Last May, the Vancouver City Council voted 7-0 to oppose the $510 million casino project and authorized city attorneys to initiate or join any litigation to thwart the tribe's plans to bring Las Vegas-style gambling to Clark County.