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Posts Tagged ‘tribe’

Tribally-owned Casinos Push for Online Initiatives

Wednesday, December 1st, 2010

It is no secret that online gambling is growing in popularity. Legislators know it, gaming companies know it and now Indian-owned casino companies know it. For a while now Indian-owned land based casinos gaming locations have been suffering. Since the recession, people have not been wagering like they used to. Instead, they have been trying to manage their own finances to sustain their homes and monthly bills. No one had money to go to the casinos. This is where tribally owned casinos have felt the brunt. Their numbers have been down for some time now and there are few signs of revival in the near future. This is why some tribal leaders are getting smart and following the old adage, ‘If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em!’ The Mashantucket Pequot tribe of St Louis just announced that it will be developing an online website for wagering. The plan is to create the website, but also to venture into television marketing too.

If companies today are to survive, they have to keep up with the trends in the market and continue to evolve. The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Leaders know this and are ready to revamp their business model for survival. The goal is to partner up with Goodson Gaming to push for a new division. Goodson Gaming is the company behind such popular television game shows like The Price is Right and Family Feud. The two companies are pushing to develop an online casino-like internet gaming website where people can wager with the same excitement the play television games. Television games have traditionally been some of the most popular in the market and now the tribal leaders are pushing to take advantage of that. They know that if they leave their company in the current state, refusing to change, they are going to continue to lose revenue, and that could mean sheer disaster for them. If they aren’t able to acclimate and change, they could evolve out of the market altogether. Since most tribes rely on gambling as their primary stream of revenue, they have to push for change. The Mashantucket Pequot tribal leaders are ready to take on a new business venture for their own financial survival.

AZ Tribal Owned Casinos Still Struggling

Monday, November 1st, 2010

Indian owned casinos are suffering in Arizona. In former years these casinos saw a lot of success. They were the ones that had lucrative deals with the state legislators. As they brought in millions of dollars, they contributed a good portion of that money directly to the state and that money was something the state came to rely on. It is a great asset to have millions of dollars in tax revenue to rely on especially in today’s depressing market. Legislators in Arizona were happy with casino performance and were hoping the numbers would remain stable. That was not to be however. Since the recession, gambling numbers have been down considerably. The state’s Gaming Board recently announced that tribal payments were at about $20 million for the third quarter of 2010, which is up 1.1% from the same quarter last year. The increase is good news, but the state’s board isn’t jumping for joy just yet. This year has been riddled with increases in wagered dollars, but it’s been sporadic. There has been no consistent growth to speak of. This means that gamers are testing out the market to reenter it, but not necessarily buying into it immediately. It also is a sign that they are wagering again, but wagering in smaller numbers. That is why the numbers are showing a slight growth but nothing substantial to speak of is in the market just yet.

There isn’t a whole lot the Gaming Board can do. Part of the problem is that gambling is growing so much in the market that gamers have more and more options for wagering. No longer are tribally owned casinos the only ones in the mix. Now there are privately owned casinos and of course online casinos. They are all pushing in on the numbers for tribally owned casios and that is causing problems for leaders. Indian owned casinos can’t do much other than continue to budget wisely and try to fend off closings or downsizing with good promotional plans and deals for the gaming public to participate in. They may be suffering a bit longer though as the market levels itself out with the new players that have entered it.

Tribally Owned Casinos Continue to Suffer

Monday, November 1st, 2010

It is no secret that tribally-owned casinos have been suffering greatly. Part of the problem is that tribes have built their own inner economies on gambling for so long. They believed that gambling was the only thing they needed to flourish. They may have some smaller markets, but nothing that can compare to the world of gambling and the money it has brought in over the past few decades. Indian leaders are worried. They believe that with governments opening the door for more casinos, it will definitely cut in on their own revenue streams. It is a problem for them because their numbers could be down for a lot longer than they were hoping as a result. Then add to the mix, the rebirth of online gambling and this could mean disaster for tribally owned casinos. No longer are they the only ones providing gaming, but the door is being opened for more and more casinos to enter the market. of course legislators don’t mind the influx of gaming because they know that the more gaming facilities they have, the more money they are bringing into the state and cities. They would love to maximize the offering of gambling, and most likely are going to push the market as hard as they possibly can to do so.

Another issue to sort out is that most online casinos are moving quickly. They are presenting a lot of competition for casinos and most land based casinos are having a hard time keeping up. Land based casinos have much larger budgets to contend with. They have to pay for a completely different list of costs that are much higher priced than online casino expensees. This is making it possible for online casinos to create specials that land based ones cannot touch. Tribally- owned casinos are in a fight right now and having problems finding ways to reinvigorate their own markets. With the added competition, they are having even move problems to deal with. Expansion is not a good thing when you have held a corner on the market for so long. Indian leaders are growing increasingly aware of this and trying to come up with quick solutions to saving their own markets.

Tribally-owned Casinos are Struggling with Legisators

Sunday, October 24th, 2010

The world of slots is expanding rapidly in the market and that is bringing a lot of growing pains to various economies. In New York there are issues now with the Seneca Tribe of Indians. The tribe of course has been operating financially thanks to slots games. For years now they have offered slots at their casino and have had a great payday with how lucrative the games are. Gamers in the state and outside of it visit their casino often due to the great gaming floor and vast array of activities the casino offers. The tribe is able to offer slots because of a pact made with the state of New York. The state’s officials agreed years ago to allow the tribe to operate all of the slot machines in their borders. They have committed to let the tribe have exclusive rights to slots and benefit from them. Of course in return the Seneca Tribe pays the state a portion of those revenues and also pays for all regulatory expenses incurred in association with the gambling laws. This is a plan that has worked successfully for years…until now.

It seems that the state made a change a few months ago and began allowing select private businesses and race tracks in the state to operate slots too. Most likely the decision was made due to greed. The state’s officials figured if they are making millions on one tribe’s casino, then why shouldn’t they open the door to slots in other locations and make multi-millions? This would be fine except that the tribe has exclusive rights and has a formal agreement to prove it. By allowing other slots gaming casinos to enter the market, the state is allowing the tribe’s revenue stream to be compromised. Things in the world of gambling are already highly competitive. Casinos aren’t seeing the same numbers they did pre-recession and that is making gaming companies fight hard for their market shares. This move allows other companies to move in on the market and the tribe is suffering even more in numbers as a result. The tribe wants to hold the state to their former agreement. In an effort to be hears, tribal leaders have been holding back paying the state. Legislators are finally listening.

Candidate for NY Governor Threatening Oneida Tribe

Friday, October 15th, 2010

Albany, New York is the latest location in the US having problem with regulating online gambling. Republican gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino said that if he wins the position, he will surely close down Turning Stone Casino. The only way he will consider keeping it open is if the tribe that owns it, Oneida, agrees to provide more of its revenue dollars to the state. He also stated that he would give the casino operators two weeks to formalize a plan that better serves New York. If they cannot come up with one in the allotted time, he is prepared to shut down the roads that give gamers access to the casino. This is just one more example of how casinos are turning state legislators around. Here it’s funding that is the big question. Paladino has been clear that he believes the casino does not benefit the state enough for it to keep running.

The tribe is not taking this bad news laying down though. The Oneida Tribal council has already stated that if the roads that access their casino are shut down, they will answer with a lawsuit that cites a federal law allowing them to operate the casino. The law came into play back in 2007 and is a solid compact with the tribe and the US government. They also noted that their casino currently brings 10,000 jobs to the market and brings in revenues of well over $425-million per year. The tribe is going even further by saying that the threat by Paladino is proof that he is an unfit candidate for the position of governor of the state. Only time will tell where the issue goes, but most likely the casino will not be shut down or blocked. Despite Paladino’s claims, the casino offers a huge monetary benefit to the state already. Plus giving jobs to the market is another asset it has on its side. In coming months the state will find out what needs to be done, but until then the Oneida Nation will continue to operate and bring great gaming, jobs and funds to the New York economy.

Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority to Speak at Deutsche Bank

Thursday, October 14th, 2010

Tribally owned casinos are making moves to solidify their place in the changing market. The Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority recently announced that they are going to be speaking at the Deutsche Bank Leverage Finance Conference for 2010. It was a surprise to many who were not sure if the casino was going to make a public show. In the end they decided to send Mitchel Grossinger Etess, CEO and Leo M Chupaska, CFO to the conference. They are going to be speaking on behalf of the tribal community at the conference. The tribe currently owned just over 500 acres in the southeastern Connecticut area. Part of the uniqueness of this tribe is that they were granted the power to regulate gambling activities on their own in their tribe. That includes the daily operations of the Mohegan Sun casino. The Mohegan Sun of course is a huge and reputable casino in the state that has its own market share to enjoy. The casino is one of the biggest and currently entertains millions of gamblers every month. The tribe also owns the Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs. Both facilities have a huge name in the market and are popular with gamblers from all over the world. The extent of how large these facilities are indicate how much growth they have gone through over the years and how well they are performing as a revenue generating facility.

The Mohegan Sun is one of just two legally authorized gaming facilities in the New England area. That is a unique characteristic for any location offering table games and slot machines. The facility is large—with a 3-million square foot gaming floor. So far there are 2,500 slot machines in the casino and they have been performing well for the casino over the years. It is a sign of good things to come tribal owners believe. They know how the casino has struggled during the recession and stated that now they are ready to restructure and expand. Their goal is to continue facing off with other casinos and winning. Due to their overwhelming casino and hotel spaces, this could be very possible.

Shinnecock Indian Tribe Finally Gets Casino Approval

Wednesday, October 13th, 2010

Most casinos in former years have been owned and operated by Indian tribes. The tribes relied on the revenue for their well being and built them up as a result. One tribe was left out in the cold however- the Shinnecock Indian Tribe. For some reason the tribe were never allowed to have the federal recognition needed to build a casino. They petitioned the government but were turned away time and again. They had to sit back and watch other tribes benefit from gambling. now things are about to change though. The tribe once again went up to submit a petition allowing them to build a casino and this time it was approved. They can now move forward with a new casino facility and operate it for revenue in the market. This is good news for the New York tribe and it means finally they can benefit from how lucrative gambling is. But are they too late?

It is no secret that the market of online gambling is highly competitive. States everywhere are playing with various rules on gambling and how to implement it into the market. they know that it is a billion dollar business and want to get themselves into the market quickly. Part of the problem though is that with the addition of so many new gambling facilities, it is stretching the revenue available. Not that there aren’t billions of dollars to go around, but the more casinos enter the less that number is for any one casino. The Shinnecock Indian tribe is still hopeful though. They are hoping that now that the Interior Department approved their application, they can move forward without incident. Unfortunately two new groups have come about to overturn the ruling already. Neither group were deemed in the right for making the appeal though so they were both shot down. The Indian tribe is ready to look for a good location for their casino now and move forward with their plans for gaming fun. This will be the latest entrant into the market for gambling in the New York area and hopefully they will find success.

Mohegan Tribal Authority In Talks for Improvement

Thursday, September 23rd, 2010

Tribal-owned casino operators have long been in trouble. Not only was the recession hard on the casino industry but the rise in internet gambling has seriously thinned out the revenue streams available to the tribes. They are now concerned about the issue and seriously trying to find new ways of assuring their viability in the market. The Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority is one group that is fighting hard for their market share. Leo M. Chupaska, CFO of the tribe recently spoke at the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority. The tribe of course is the owner of a 500+ acre reservation in southeast Connecticut. The Authority has the exclusive rights to build the tribal brand throughout the area, including operating the Mohegan Sun casino at the Pocono Downs. This is a premiere casino location in the area and brings in millions of dollars in revenue in any given year.

Tribal casinos are suffering financially. One of the biggest problems is the rise in gambling throughout the US. Gaming casinos are cropping up everywhere due to the pending changes coming about. States throughout the US are toying with legislation that will allow for gambling to be used as revenue generating activities. Lawmakers know full well how lucrative the market is and they are pushing to use money for building up state coffers and overcoming the recession. States are planning on handing out licenses to various bidders who want to develop gambling casinos. Those licenses and the tax revenue dollars they create is what is going to help states out of their hefty deficits. The problem is that the rise in casinos is seriously threatening Indian-owned casino revenue. Tribal leaders are concerned that the huge growth in casinos will cut back on their own revenue and most tribal leaders rely on gambling as a major part of their income. They have contracts with the government that allow them to own and operate casinos but now those contracts are being threatened. In addition, add to the mix the pending legalization of online gambling and tribal leaders are seriously worried about their revenue streams. Without some viable options and strengthening of their own brands, tribally owned casinos could be in serious trouble in coming years.

Tribes Fight Over Gambling Rights- Part 2

Saturday, September 18th, 2010

The Gila River leaders and lawyers are pushing for the government to make good with their original plan. They were supposed to have control over the land—it was part of an overall agreement they made with the government years ago. The new decision though is part of a long-standing investigation. The government is trying to correct another wrong it managed. The land was in trust for the Indian tribe and its purpose was to “correct a historical wrong.” The nation has stated that it will adamantly fight for the land and will not back down from the issue. On the other hand, the Gila River Indian Community also has a huge vested interest in the market. They want to preserve their own financial situations and assure that they are going to benefit from the millions of gambling dollars that will come in. They want to secure their own financial futures—especially at a time like this where gambling is expanding so readily in both the land-based and internet markets.

Now that things in the world of gambling are changing, more and more tribes are in dangerous financial situations. The truth is that gambling is growing but other entities are looking to use it. It used to be that tribal leaders were the most readily involved with gambling. They had agreements with the government to pay them a certain percentage, but then take advantage of the numbers for themselves. Now that gambling is being legalized, it is pushing in on their market. They are going to have to share the revenue of gambling with online gambling companies and other gambling companies that move into the industry. This means that their monopoly may be over. Unfortunately most to all of their revenue comes from gambling. This seriously threatens their future financial states and could bring sheer disaster for the tribes. Only time will tell what decisions the government makes to protect tribes and their revenue streams from gambling but it is a hot topic right now. Tribal leaders are bracing themselves for serious fighting for their own rights when it comes to gambling and tribal-owned casinos.

Tribes Fight Over Gambling Rights- Part 1

Saturday, September 18th, 2010

Tribes and gambling have gone hand in hand over the years. Indian-owned casinos have long been the primary ones in states and have managed gambling revenues successfully. Now that the market is opening up though, the tribes are having problems with oversaturation. Many tribal leaders are fighting hard because gambling is their primary source of income and has been for years now. According to agreements with the government, tribes were allowed to operate casinos and benefit from their operations. Now, those agreements are being threatened by the market as it continues to grow exponentially. Now the Gila River Indian Community is having problems with the way things are developing. Tribal leaders recently filed a lawsuit that would block Tohono O’odham Nation’s casino plan in the state of Arizona. The Gila River Indian Community is alleging that the US Department of the Interior’s move to agree for the development was illegal and contradictory to the policies already set forth. It is a violation of their rights and infringes on their plans already agreed upon.

If the agreement with the Tohono O’odham tribe goes through it would give the land to them. They then would be able to build the casino in an unincorporated area within the state around the Glendale area. The lawsuit is putting a road block into the plan though. The Gila River tribe states that the territory is theirs. Currently the Department of the Interior refuses comment on the issue and is waiting for more information before they release anything formally. There is currently an investigation into the issue, but only time will tell what happens. The one thing that is for sure is that neither tribe will stand down on the issue. The millions of dollars available here are going to push each one to make more solid and determined decisions while this issue is being sorted out. The agreements that are in motion now are unfortunately contradictory to each other, or could be in coming months. That is why the tribal leaders are making such a large deal out of the issue—t at and the fact that there are millions of dollars at stake if other casinos move into their territories.

Part two coming next.