NIGA joins the Brookings Institute with a discussion targeting the next 30 years of Indian Gaming
February 14, 2019 – Las Vegas, NV – On February 14, Brookings hosted a symposium bringing together the U.S. and tribal government officials, academics, and experts to discuss what’s next for the American Indian gaming industry. The discussions took a look at identifying emerging issues, challenges, opportunities, and implications for the industry and tribal citizens alike. The 1988 Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) established the National Indian Gaming Commission as a means to support tribal economic development and self- sufficiency, promote robust tribal governments, and ensure tribes as the primary beneficiaries of gaming activities. Thirty years later, what impact has American Indian gaming had on local tribal communities? What are the challenges for the industry going forward in the next 30 years? The event emphasized the self-determination aspects of Indian gaming and brought together a diverse group of people representing the industry. These included regulators, tribal officials, researchers and federal agency officials who discussed the effects of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act on tribal nations and the prospects of Indian gaming for the future. The keynote speech was delivered by now former Chairman of the National Indian Gaming Commission, who outlined the creation of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA), which was passed in 1988, what IGRA has done for tribes, the economic success of Indian gaming since the implementation of IGRA and the regulators that continue to protect the Indian gaming industry. National Indian Gaming Association Chairman Ernie Stevens, Jr., joined the first-panel discussion entitled “The American Indian Gaming Industry Challenges in the Next 30 Years.” Moderated by Katherine Spilde, Chair of the Sycuan Institute on Tribal Gaming and a Professor at San Diego State University in San Diego, CA. The panel included Patrice Kunesh, Director of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, Center for Indian Country Development, Cody Martinez, Chairman of the Sycuan Band of Kumeyaay Nation and John Tahsuda, Acting Secretary/ Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs for the Department of Interior. The panel discussed several topics, including taking land-into-trust and the need to educate the public about the benefits of Indian gaming.
“We need the world not to
be afraid of Indian people
expanding our horizons
because we got a long way to
go. In the next six months, I’m
going to hold two more brand
new grandbabies. So, I’ll be
up around 17 grandchildren.
I want these kids to have
something to live for and I
want America’s children to
have something to live for.
That’s what Indian gaming is
all about.”
--Ernie Stevens, Jr.
7 | INDIAN GAMING UPDATE -MID YEAR EDITION 2019
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