President Joe Biden has nominated Patrice Kunesh, a member of the Standing Rock Lakota tribe, to serve as the chairperson for the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC). Kunesh, who currently holds positions within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, has received approval from various Native American organizations for her nomination. Her extensive experience in serving Native American communities is seen as a positive step for the Indian gaming industry and tribal economies. However, Kunesh, along with other nominees, must still undergo Congressional approval before officially assuming the role.
In New York, the Seneca Tribe is experiencing a change in leadership as outgoing president Rickey Armstrong, Sr. concludes his term. The transition in leadership may delay negotiations for a new gaming compact with the state. J.C. Seneca, a tribal council member and candidate for the presidency, is the son of former Seneca National president William Seneca. The tribe continues to operate its casino under a temporary compact agreement with the state as negotiations for a permanent solution are ongoing.
Meanwhile, in Louisiana, Jonathan Cernek has stepped down as chairman of the Coushatta Tribe. Cernek, who served for just over three years of his four-year term, left his position in August. The Coushatta Tribe operates the largest casino in the state, the Coushatta Casino Resort in Kinder, La. It remains unknown who will serve as interim chair or when a permanent replacement will be elected.
In other news, Washington’s Quil Ceda Creek casino has introduced a new high-limit slots room with plans to open high-limit table games in the near future. Additionally, former Hollywood entertainment executive Ron Meyer is facing a lawsuit from the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority after losing $5 million on credit at Connecticut’s Mohegan Sun casino in 2017. Wisconsin’s Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians is involved in a proposed class-action settlement regarding high-interest payday loans, while a naloxone vending machine has been installed outside Casino Pauma in San Diego county to provide lifesaving resources for individuals struggling with addiction.
These updates and trends within the tribal gaming industry highlight the ongoing developments and challenges faced by Native American tribes operating casinos across the country. As new leadership emerges, negotiations continue, and legal battles unfold, the future of the tribal gaming industry remains dynamic and ever-changing.
