Casino Enterprise Management

Tribal nations are not novices when it comes to knowing the value of a customer-centric experience in the world of gaming. Technological advances continue to broaden the Indian gaming entertainment experience by weaving modern digital and electronic glitz and glimmer into players’ experience. Indian country has some of the most exemplary resort and casino facilities in the country. 

It’s no secret that a shift has occurred in Las Vegas over the past few years; Strip casinos now often gain more revenue from rooms, restaurants and entertainment than slots. “People across the nation are coming to Las Vegas for its other amenities,” Matthew Maddox of Wynn Resorts said in a Las Vegas Sun interview last year.

During the week of July 20 to 27, a group of volunteers, including several National Indian Gaming Association (NIGA) members and associate members, traveled to Cass Lake, Minn., to assist tribal enrollees with housing repairs/construction and the community at large with elders’ and children’s projects. The people served comprise mostly White Earth and Leech Lake tribal members...

Time is flying by and the fall is here again. It has been a summer to remember regarding the tremendous amount of work and travel we have put in to get our NIGA members involved in the many issues facing tribal sovereignty and Indian self-determination. For the National Indian Gaming Association (NIGA), gaming issues remain at the forefront of our mission, but we found ourselves supporting...

Summertime is almost over, and with Congress in recess, now is a good time to take stock of the work we have done and focus on the work ahead of us. NIGA has been working hard since the beginning of the year with tribal leaders across Indian country and in Washington. With the effects of sequestration just beginning to be felt and a divided Congress working hard to make compromises, it is more important than...

With the debt markets recovered from the extreme dislocation of the past few years and in fairly robust shape, tribal governments and their gaming operators are happily dusting off new construction plans, expansion schematics and/or refinancing needs that have sat on their symbolic shelves for too long. However, just as the architectural renderings may need some refreshing, a review of preparation strategies, post-recovery market considerations, lender profiles and due diligence related to sovereign finance is a wise exercise.

My youngest daughter, Chelsea, plays for a highly competitive volleyball club team, and last month her team won a regional qualifier, receiving an invitation to compete in this summer’s Junior Olympic national games. Shortly after her team accepted the qualifying bid, Chelsea approached me and asked if she could have private coaching lessons, as she wants to improve her skills blocking at the net.

Summertime is here, and it is a wonderful time for visiting our native communities, seeing friends and relatives from all over the country, enjoying graduation ceremonies and powwows. Powwows provide an opportunity for Native people to come together and enjoy our unique cultures through song, dance and food. While the powwow season is in full force, tribal leaders will be coming together to discuss...

The National Indian Gaming Association (NIGA) wrapped up another successful trade show and convention—Indian Gaming 2013—that took place in Phoenix. Each year, our trade show highlights the advancements in the Indian gaming industry, and more importantly, it is our opportunity to bring tribal leadership together to continue the dialogue on the critical issues that face NIGA’s member tribes.  Despite stiff economic headwinds, it was with great pride...

In keeping with this magazine’s theme and its distribution at the NIGA trade show, CEM took the opportunity to speak with a few of tribal gaming’s influential leaders representing both tribal nations and state associations. Read on to see what each of them shared about their current initiatives and the current state of the tribal gaming industry.