The National Indian Gaming Association a vital force at the International Casino Exhibition (ICE)
Jason Giles, Executive Director and Mark Macarro, Chairman of the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians join Sarah Slane, VP of Governmental Affairs at the American Gaming Association and Renato Ascoli, CEO of IGT North America as part of a Sports Betting in New Markets & Indian Country Panel at the International Casino Exhibition (ICE) conference in London.
On the second day of the ICE Conference, NIGA participated in the “Sports Betting in New Markets & Indian Country,” on the ICE Tradeshow floor. Chairman Stevens joined newly appointed President and CEO of the AGA, Bill Miller, to provide their respective viewpoints on the gaming Industry. Chairman Stevens noted that “Indian Gaming has become so much more than just an entertainment activity. Revenues from gaming are vital to our reservation economies and provide much needed funds for police, fire, healthcare, education, and other vital Tribal government services.” He used the example of his own father’s care in a nursing home fully funded by the Oneida Nation and only possible after the success of gaming on their reservation. He emphasized this example of success is common to Tribal Governments throughout the Country who use their gaming revenues to provide a better quality of life for their Tribal citizens. NIGA Executive Director Jason Giles joined an esteemed panel of his industry colleagues to discuss the future of Sports Betting in America. Moderated by Loretta Tuell of Tuell Indian Law, the panelists discussed where Indian Gaming and commercial gaming overlap, and how these two industries can work together in addressing the remaining obstacles to sports betting after the Supreme Court’s PASPA decision. Mr. Giles noted that Tribal Nations face legal and regulatory hurdles at the federal level that most States do not have to worry about. He noted that States with Tribes located in their borders are not as free to legalize sports betting without engaging with the Tribal Nations within the State. Therefore, it is notable that of the 10 State jurisdictions that legalized sports betting; only one, Mississippi, has a Tribe in their state.
Chairman Mark Macarro of the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians in California detailed the challenges unique to the Tribes in California who are looking to pursue the option of including sports betting in their casinos. The unique challenges faced by Chairman Macarro’s Tribe are endemic to Tribes throughout the Country as they look to negotiate with States on how to implement the next wave of gaming technology, and how that will correspond with a State’s public policy towards gambling. Often times in the past, these negotiations were fraught with bitterness, but Tribes and States today have a much better understanding of their respective policy positions. Chairman Macarro expressed caution about the California gaming market as the State Constitution needs to be amended in order to allow sports betting and the earliest that amendment could happen is in 2020. Sarah Slane, Vice President of Intergovernmental Affairs for the American Gaming Association, stated that the sports betting and mobile components of the gaming industry are far ahead of any federal laws or proposed federal laws. She noted that States are continuing to pursue sports betting, and the gaming industry at large continues to innovate and look to the future. Renato Ascoli, CEO of IGT North America, noted his company’s success with helping to implement one of the two Tribal sports book operations in America. IGT partnered with the Mississippi Band of Choctaw to open the first Tribal sports book in Indian Country. Mr. Ascoli was very optimistic about the future of Tribal gaming and the addition of sports betting as another form of entertainment for their customers. He also pointed out that the expansion of sports betting will not only be beneficial to Tribal Enterprises, but to society as a whole to make sports more fun and exciting for future generations.
5 | INDIAN GAMING UPDATE - MID YEAR EDITION 2019
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