A survey has revealed that tribal casinos are coping with the economic downturn better than other sectors of the casino business and experts predict that within five years Indian gaming revenues will exceed those of the regular commercial casinos.
The survey was included in the latest G2E Future Watch Series, which tracks current and upcoming gaming trends. Three-quarters of participants believed the economic downturn on tribal casinos will be much less severe than will be experienced generally.
The efforts to implement IGRA, a jurisdiction which governs tribal gaming, by the National Indian Gaming Commission was viewed as a positive move for the sector. However, an issue which could have a deep impact on Indian country is presently being considered by the US Supreme Court.
This is the Carcieri v Kempthorne case in which the court must decide if the Secretary of the Interior can hold land in trust under the 1934 Indian Reorganisation Act for a a tribe not federally recognised until after the Act’s passage.
If the court rules in favour of the Narragansett Tribe, the survey claims it would be “very important for tribes across the country.” The report was based on interviews by 21 tribal gaming insiders, the majority of whom have worked in the tribal gaming business for over a decade.
