NATIONAL INDIAN GAMING ASSOCIATION BRINGS A STRONG PRESENCE AT THE 2018 GLOBAL GAMING EXPO
The G2E 2018 “Tribal Leadership Roundtable: The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act in the 21st Century,” panel. In the photo L-R Victor Rocha, Ernie Stevens, Jr., Chairman of the National Indian Gaming Association, Rodney Butler, Chairman of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe, Melanie Benjamin, Chief Executive of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe and Mark Macarro, Chairman, Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians.
Las Vegas, Nevada – October 08, 2018 – Global Gaming Expo (G2E) 2018 officially kicked off their annual show on Monday, at the Sands Expo with a full day of panels and educational workshops which included a track focusing on Indian gaming related topics and issues. Indian gaming representative and industry experts presented to the G2E attendees. Starting off the 2018 edition of the tribal gaming tracks brought together tribal leaders to discuss the 30 years of gaming regulation under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA.) The panel entitled “Tribal Leadership Roundtable: The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act in the 21st Century,” was moderated by Victor Rocha, President of Victor Strategies and included leaders such as Mark Macarro, Chairman, Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians, Melanie Benjamin, Chief Executive of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Indians, Rodney Butler, Chairman of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe and Ernie Stevens, Jr., Chairman of the National Indian Gaming Association. The landmark 1987 Supreme Court decision under Cabazon paved the way for the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA), ultimately leading to a dynamic of change in the economic development atmosphere in Indian country. When the 100th United States Congress enacted IGRA in 1988, nobody could have predicted the tremendous success tribal gaming is currently enjoying. In this session, tribal leaders discussed the ever-growing tribal gaming industry and the regulatory framework of IGRA, which
some see as potentially outdated given today’s landscape, especially concerning mobile gaming and sports betting. Chairman Macarro said, “IGRA is fundamentally important to everything we do. It’s the pillar and foundation.” He added, “In so far as looking at changes in our market we need to ask, Is this a threat for us? Does it harm our brick and mortar or do we incorporate it into our brick and mortar for our people, for our tribes and the future? This one is difficult because things are moving so quickly, there is so much in society that has changed since IGRA was passed. With the onset of a mobile society, it is something we need to be proactive about.” Macarro also indicated that it is important to take stock of how sports betting can appear in all its variations, including different states and jurisdictions including Indian country. Chief Executive Benjamin was asked about what sports betting means to the Minnesota tribes. She said, “There is a lot of discussion going on regarding sports betting, but until the legislature makes a move we’ll know exactly where we are going to go. The Minnesota tribes are concerned about exclusivity and how that impacts our compacts. We’re looking at that potential expansion and what it brings to our facilities overall.” Chairman Butler said of the future of IGRA as far as sports betting is concerned, “IGRA opened up an incredible opportunity. Fast forward to where we are today, we have built a very successful business that was foundational for many tribes throughout the
16 | INDIAN GAMING UPDATE - SPRING EDITION 2018
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