Tribal Gaming: Politics in Indian Country

One year into the global pandemic, the regulatory and political landscape on both federal and state level has changed dramatically in the US, and its impact extends into Indian Country.

This webinar, which went out live on 13 April, takes a closer look at the key themes and trends shaping up the present and the future of tribal gaming.

The discussion is led by Victor Rocha of Pechanga.net, and features a panel comprising some of the leading names in tribal gaming:

• James Siva, Vice Chairman, Morongo Band of Mission Indians, Chairperson, California Nations Indian Gaming Association,
• Rodney Butler, Chairman, Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation,
• Matthew Morgan, Chairman, Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association, Director of Gaming Affairs, Chickasaw Nation Division of Commerce,
• Erica M. Pinto, Chairwoman, Jamul Indian Village

In this webinar, the panel discusses…

• How the political and regulatory priorities have evolved in Indian country and how the arrival of the new administration changed the conversation and relationship
• Ensuring that gaming continues to be the means of cultural preservation (listen to one California tribe fight for 6 acres to be added to their reservation to expand housing and facilities as gaming now takes most of its reservation’s space)
• The desire to protect sovereignty – not just the right to preserve, but the right to make own choices by the tribes, against the backdrop of efforts to corrode tribal sovereignty
• Possibility of pushing the vote on sports wagering in California from 2022 to 2021
• How state-tribal relationship are evolving and differ across the states, with examples of Connecticut, California and Oklahoma, as represented by the expert panel

• What to expect in the key tribal states in 2021 and beyond with the drive towards sports betting and digital and as the result of states that have already launched
• Views on mobile and its impact on sovereignty
• Reluctance to modify IGRA

Original Article