“The Road Ahead: Tribal Gaming After PASPA,” panel discussion closed out NIGA Mid-Year 2018. This session included discussion of some of the most critical The “Regulating Sports Betting & Emerging Gaming” In the photo L-R: Chris Stearns, Commissioner of the Washington State Gambling Commission moderated the panel, which included Billy David, Owner of Bo-Co-Pa & Associates, Ron Flores, Chairman of the Pechanga Gaming Commission, John Roberts, Commissioner of the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi Gaming
Technology, panelists included Vernon Finley, General Manager of Grey Wolf Peak Casino in Montana, Debbie Thundercloud, Chief of Staff at NIGA, Lee Torres, General Manager of Pechanga Resort & Casino and Seth Young, Executive Director of Online Gaming, Foxwoods Resort and Casino. On Thursday, September 27, NIGA Mid-Year discussions continued to target the opportunities in Sports Betting. To kick off the discussions, a panel entitled, “Technology & Responsible Gambling: The Casino in Your Hand.” Panelist included Cameron Conn, Founder and CEO of GameSecure, Connie Jones, Director of Responsible Gaming at AGEM, Robert Jacobson, Executive Director of the California Council on Problem Gaming and moderated by Kevin Mullaly, Vice President of Governmental Counsel, GLI. The panel discussed the hard questions regarding the alignment of technological tools with peer-reviewed research, the measurability of results from using the tools, their impact on a diverse consumer base and how to prevent unintentional harm. The “Regulating Sports Betting & Emerging Gaming” panel came together to focus on the future of sports betting in Indian Country, and identify the mixture of sports betting products that are entertaining but also safe, secure, and legal. Tribes and tribal regulators will be on the front lines of providing oversight of new channels, including mobile and online, as well as evolving products like in-play wagers. The panel provided considerations regarding the necessary tools and best practices for regulating sports betting. The group also explored what tribes can learn from other jurisdictions already governing sports betting. Chris Stearns, Commissioner of the Washington State Gambling Commission moderated the panel, which included Billy David, Owner of Bo-Co-Pa & Associates, Ron Flores, Chairman of the Pechanga Gaming Commission, John Roberts, Commissioner of the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi Gaming Commission and George Rover, Managing Partner at Princeton Global Strategies.
questions facing Indian Country today related to Sport Betting, which included discussions on opportunities, issues facing smaller tribes, tribal exclusivity, gaming compact renegotiation potentials, new stakeholders, new Constitutional Amendment in California on sports betting, and realistic timeline for the rollout of sports betting in states. Victor Rocha, President of Victor Strategies moderated the panel that included Mark Macarro, Chairman of the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians, Greg Sarris, Chairman of the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, Ernie Stevens, Jr., Chairman of the NIGA and Debbie Thundercloud, Chief of Staff at NIGA. As the Indian gaming industry and tribal leadership gathered for NIGA’s Midyear Conference, a subcommittee of the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee held a hearing to examine sports betting in the United States in the post-Murphy v. NCAA era. While some witnesses pressed against federal oversight, conservative members of the subcommittee pressed for a strong federal regulatory role over sports betting in America. As noted by the content of our Mid-Year Conference, it is clear that Sports Betting is an important matter on our radar. All of Indian Country will continue to monitor this as it moves forward. Chairman Stevens concluded the Mid-Year by saying, “Our Mid-Year attendance is proof that we are ready and willing to take our place at the table when it comes to opportunities in Sports Betting and to enhance tribal government gaming revenues.”
8 | INDIAN GAMING UPDATE - SPRING EDITION 2018
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