Americans have a lot on their plate these days. Heavy weather, pandemic fatigue and political chips waiting to fall where they may following the election unrest are in steady headline rotation. While these events affect gaming in a variety of ways, this edition of Gaming America focuses on the state of Tribal gaming across the country and its profound impact and importance to the industry.
There's a particular nod to the progress being made in California, with, among other features, talks with Matt Hosman, Kambi's US director, and Matthew Mingrone, general manager of Central Valley's Eagle Mountain Casino. But we can't ignore that one of the biggest stories from Las Vegas this year is that, despite the run of play of suspended conventions, reduced visitor numbers and mid-week closures, major properties are due to open on the Strip, and one of them is the highly-anticipated Virgin Hotel where Tribal gaming operator Mohegan Sun will run the casino. Oliver Lovat of the Denstone Group asks if this kind of strong statement to challenge the established order will set a tone of possibilities in the years to come. If successful, he says, it will help to usher in "a new wave of credible ownership and unprecedented investment in Las Vegas, with much of Tribal and regional gaming watching and waiting to see what happens."
Back out West, Lovat adds, California Tribes like the Manuel Band of Mission Indians and the Pechanga Tribe of Luiseno Indians could follow the Seminoles' Hard Rock to expand their footprint. And lest we forget that, looking east (but not that East), Oklahoma's WinStar, which the Chickasaw Nation operates, is the largest casino in the world. "Native American Tribes are the quiet giants in hospitality," adds Lovat and it's easy to see why with all the resources, experience, established customer databases and available capital at hand. OIGA chairman Matthew Morgan also says that the new Biden administration bodes well for Tribal gaming, seeing as the President hails from gambling-friendly Delaware. "We are hopeful that the increased urgency of the Biden administration regarding the vaccine rollout and COVID-19 response will lead to our industry and gaming facilities returning to doing business in a more normal manner and at more normal occupancy levels," he says.
These are equal parts fascinating, nerve-racking and exciting times no matter your perspective, but Tribal is an area worth paying particular attention to with all its potential, and actual, success in play.
