Why Casino Development is Crucial for Native Communities
The “Winstar World Casino” near the Oklahoma and Texas border just had their 20th Anniversary after opening in 2003, they are currently the largest native-owned casino in America. This news had me wondering why there are so many native-owned casinos within America. It’s no secret that being within Native Communities, especially in reservations within the United States can lead to many hardships and challenges for the individuals who live within these communities, which has led to many tribal leaders and community heads/Chairmans to look for new ways to support their people and their home through new financial endeavors. That’s why Casinos have been and are a great way for these communities to break through and fight against these challenges and hardships, even with them being such a controversial solution. Now I realize that they are a sign of self-determination and show the fight back from colonization and they are hugely popular today, which benefits all the nations that have them.
Native American Casinos and their creation are heavily based on colonization. Since the removal of native communities from their homes and lands there has been a very complicated and ugly history between them and the United States government with the U.S government continuing to discriminate, and continuing to make legislation and rules to push out native populations, which led to and still keeps a lot of native communities in. Now with this hatred and history, natives had to fight back against the U.S. government. This led to the “first Indian casino built in Florida by the Seminole tribe, which opened a successful high-stakes bingo parlor in 1979.” (Smith 2022) This establishment proved to be successful however some pushback occurred when other communities tried to build their casino, particularly in California when it tried to prohibit the Cabazon Band of Mission Indians from building on their land. “ The state attempted to shut down these gambling operations, contending they violated California policy. The Cabezons sued California in federal court, and when the case reached the Supreme Court, the Court ruled that the state had no authority to prevent the Cabezons’actions”. ( White, 2024) Thankfully in 1987, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in California v. Cabazon Band of Mission Indians that states could not prohibit Native American tribes from opening and operating casinos on their reservations if the state allowed similar forms of gambling. This was continued the next year when on Oct 17, 1988 “The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act” (IGRA) enacted the ability for gaming to be held on Indian Land. Now more than 150 tribes in 24 states have opened bingo operations on reservations, which has opened up so many different jobs and opportunities for the members of these communities.
As we know throughout American history native Americans haven’t received the same and equal opportunities that all others have received. The issue of native Americans not receiving equal jobs and career opportunities started at the beginning of the colonization of the Americans. As time continued we even saw how this affected native communities till the early 40s and continued with the beginning of the termination era. In this termination era, they were trying to kill and remove all aspects of native individuals and incorporate them more and more into traditional American society, which meant trying to incorporate them into American careers and jobs. This was a total failure due to native Americans in this time still being seen as second citizens and it was extremely difficult for them to receive or even attempt to secure jobs. This unavailability in employment, led to many members of native communities purely trying to survive just on governmental aid. “Hence, the average reservation unemployment rate has been 50 percent for decades. Due to the lack of opportunities on reservations, the median income for Indians is approximately two-thirds the median income of non-Hispanic whites.” (Crepple, 2023)This is where native-owned casinos can come in to create careers and jobs for many native members. “ The revenue generated from these casinos has been used to improve living conditions on reservations and, in some cases, has been distributed to tribal citizens as cash transfers. All citizens within a tribe receive equal transfers regardless of age, marital status, or income.” ( (Mortality Effects of Casinos on Native Americans, n.d.)
More opportunities that casinos can bring to reservations are helping with aid towards healthcare, education, and housing. An example of this can be seen in Arizona where Native American tribes in Arizona whose finances have been bolsteredby thriving casino businesses contribute millions of dollars each year to charitable causes. In the most recent fiscal year, the fifteen Arizona tribes with casino operations earned $1.8 billion in gross gaming revenues and were required to contribute $91.7 million to cities, counties, and state agencies. Casinos can also contribute to helping native children in need. This was able to be done when “ The Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978” was passed. This act, “ Declares that it is the policy of Congress to establish minimum Federal standards for the removal of Indian children from their families (extended families) and for the placement of such children in foster or adoptive homes which will reflect Indian culture.” ( The United States Congress, 1978) With this act passed it gave just another way for casinos to step in and support their communities by being able to support children in need and being able to supply financial aid. This project made me realize that native casinos aren’t just another casino, but they are a way that native communities have created defiance and proven self-determination in a nation that has kept them down for so long.
References:
Darian-Smith, E. (2016, May 22). Indian gaming. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Indian-gaming
Byron R. White. “California v. Cabazon Band of Mission Indians”. Court Case, February 25, 1987. From Teaching American History. https://teachingamericanhistory.org/document/california-v-cabazon-band-of-mission-indians/ (accessed November 11, 2024).
Mortality effects of casinos on Native Americans. (n.d.). NBER. https://www.nber.org/brd/20241/mortality-effects-casinos-native-americans
The Casino did help a lot of reservations financially, and I agree with you that this is more than just helping Native Americans get the resources but also an important statement for the indigenous nation’s sovereignty. We tend to pay attention to the successful stories but not the ones that failed, there are still many reservations who lack resources and basic needs for food, medicare, and education.
I really liked how you referenced a lot of official government acts for this paper