While the average margin of a sports book is 5%, the activity is an amenity that draws an additional customer base that could prove crucial in the current highly competitive gaming environment. To further complicate the issue, Internet sports gaming will likely enter the policy debate, in order to enhance the economic viability of the activity. Internet gaming adds several elements to the debate, including Social iGaming, Internet Skill Dominant Gaming, Mobile Casino Gambling, Internet Casino Gambling, Daily Fantasy Sports, among others. The Indian Gaming regulatory community has also been engaging in discussions to prepare for the potential new evolution of games. NIGA Sports Betting Working Group held four regional meetings to gather input from our membership about sports betting. From the feedback provided throughout this debate, NIGA’s Board of Directors is working to finalize a policy position on federal legislative efforts to amend PASPA. In addition, we must prepare our Member Tribes for several possible outcomes of the Supreme Court case: PASPA is upheld (status quo), overturned as unconstitutional (free for all for states and Tribes), or partial repeal (which could result in a Tribal-only Prohibition). We have the foundation for these discussions in place with the NIGA Internet Gaming Principles, which were established in 2011. These principles are directives from our leadership, and are grounded in NIGA’s overall mission to protect and preserve tribal sovereignty and the respect for Indian tribes as governments. Tribal Government Gaming Expanding Worldwide NIGA has participated in the International Casino Exhibition (ICE) since 2014, educating the world gaming market about the Indian Gaming industry. Having been in the industry for forty years, Indian Gaming is now taking steps to use our expertise in markets beyond the United States. ICE is the largest gaming tradeshow in the world and offers venues for Governmental Representatives, regulators, operators and vendors. Many governmental entities from around the world that are considering offering gaming in their jurisdictions attend the conference in search of potential partners. With this initiative also come opportunities for furthering Tribal Tourism in the United States and abroad. NIGA will continue to forge relationships at ICE and elsewhere to expand economic opportunities for our Member Tribes and all of Indian Country. Domestic and International Trade and Business Development One of the primary goals of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act is to promote Tribal economic development and self-sufficiency. While Indian gaming revenues are helping some Tribal Nations improve their economies, more must be done to break down barriers to economic development on Indian lands. NIGA has advocated for needed legislative changes through tax reform, improvements to Indian Country infrastructure, and tribal commerce initiatives. The Department of the Interior conducted a number of Listening Sessions in 2017 to build the case for economic development in Indian Country and gather information to update the Indian Trader Statute and regulations. NIGA will continue to press this Administration to finalize this work. We will also continue to forge these discussions on the international level where we have engaged with the British Parliament to explore potential economic development endeavors, and with the U.S. Embassy in Great Britain, where we had our first discussion this year in collaboration with the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development. We will be gathering data, researching and preparing for a follow-up discussion in 2019.
INDIAN GAMING - ANNUAL REPORT 2018 7
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