The success of Indian gaming for many tribes in the United States has brought some problems along with prosperity and a bigger political voice. A two-day forum at Sycuan’s Singing Hills country club in California has brought together the leaders of some 30 gaming tribes to share experiences and seek solutions to new challenges. The forum takes place at a time when state and federal legislators are seeking to place new restrictions on tribal gaming.

Discussions in group sessions and panels have wrestled with issues such as improving relations with local governments and communities, and ensuring that tribal values are maintained in the face of increasing materialism. One keynote speaker emphasised that economic success was only one component of restoring and rebuilding tribal communities.

In a survey presented by the National Indian Gaming Association (NIGA) last November, it was found that 76% of Americans polled approved the current level of regulation on Indian gaming, and 72% thought that it benefited states and local communities. A vast majority (86%) felt that the tribes benefit from having casinos and continue to deserve help (69%).

So far no tribe has ever opened a casino outside its home state but several are pushing claims for restitution of old tribal lands or buying land outside their reservations. This has been labelled as ‘reservation shopping’ by some, since tribes understandably would prefer to operate casinos close to urban centres and interstate highways than on sometimes remote tribal lands.

Indian gaming has grown into a US$20 billion industry and it is considered unlikely that Congress will not review the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA). Many land deals and gaming rights are contingent on federal approval and the US House and Senate are now debating changes to the law that would make such approval even harder to obtain. There are even some observers who believe that, despite its popularity, Indian gaming could once again become illegal if federal policy continues to drastically fluctuate. (E-03.22.06)

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