The tribal leaders expressed at the new normal webinar of the Indian Gaming Association that the new reality of Trump's second administration might impact several aspects of Indian reservation affairs.
IGA Chairman Victor Rocha and Executive Director Jason Giles, along with long-serving chairman Ernest Stevens Jr and former editor of "Today's Indian" Mark Trahant, participated in this meeting.
The four discussed various aspects of Indian life and the impacts it has already or might face over the next four years, including potential changes in the Indian gaming industry under the Trump administration.
The impact on the gaming industry remains to be seen
The first point of discussion on the gaming industry was the appointment of North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum as the new Secretary of the Interior, a position previously held by Deb Haaland, which is a significant role related to Indian affairs.
Rocha stated that Burgum "is not the worst thing we could do." He mentioned that Burgum generally protected tribal rights in his previous posts, "but not when it comes to online gaming." This refers to the end of 2022, when Burgum signed new agreements with state tribes but refused to grant them exclusive rights to digital gaming.
Rocha also predicted that under the leadership of the new administration, the federal government might control the approval of tribal casinos. "No more land trusts, no more gaming outside of reservations," he said. In the last days of President Joe Biden's term, his administration approved a series of controversial projects, some of which were casinos outside of reservations, historically almost impossible to obtain.
Trahan noted that if Trump or his associates could profit from it, this situation might continue. Last month in Florida, Republican congressmen refused to convene a special session to consider a proposal to ban the use of signature collection companies. It is speculated that Trump would oppose such measures because it would inadvertently make it more difficult for him to develop casinos in Florida.
The illegal market welcomes the uncertainty of the federal government
Giles stated that the gaming tribes now need the federal government's help more than ever to combat the illegal gaming market. He and Rocha have been working hard to combat the proliferation of lottery websites in California and other places.
The main regulatory body for Indian gaming—the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC)—has been without a confirmed chair for over a year. Long-serving chairman Sequoyah Simermeyer resigned last February to join FanDuel.
For this reason, Trahant expressed surprise that tribal gaming is not a more important issue for legislators, even if just because of the economic impact and employment numbers. Instead, they compete for the attention of companies like Microsoft and Tesla.
Stevens again emphasized the need for patience and long-term thinking. "We must hold our ground and fight wisely," he said. "We can't just think it will go away."
Previous administrations also faced challenges
Trahan began the discussion with a historical comparison. He mentioned that in the early 20th century, business magnates like John Rockefeller and William Waldorf Astor had a tremendous influence on American politics.
He said, "For the Indians, that was a particularly dark period," noting that the Indians "lost quite a lot" of land at that time. Later, he mentioned the Nixon administration, which also took similar measures to reduce the size of the federal government. He claimed that these measures faced much more resistance than today.
Stevens insisted that tribal leaders must advocate for education. Tribal colleges and universities have been struggling with limited funding, a situation that is likely to continue. Stevens said that he and his family are products of this system and must fight to maintain it. Trahant lamented that after years of disruption from the COVID-19 pandemic, colleges and students are only now returning to normal.
Stevens talked about how, as a liaison in Washington, he brought the struggles of previous generations to Congress. His father, Ernest Stevens, Sr., was a distinguished Marine Corps veteran and a strong advocate for Indian rights. "We must fight hard to prevent anyone from changing policies that are favorable to us," he said. "The leadership is really in control."
At the recent ICE conference in Barcelona, Stevens gave a speech on tribal gaming. He conveyed to the international audience that the tribes "are willing to do business" because they want to leverage the success of the gaming industry to explore other businesses. He cited Trump's history as a businessman, urging Indian nations to use this to advance their commercial interests. However, they still need to remain vigilant and respond swiftly to any infringement of sovereignty.
"If you start attacking fiercely, you will be knocked down," he said. "But you have to take action."
