Dominic Ortiz, CEO of Potawatomi Casinos & Hotels, wasted no time in cutting to the core of the tribal gaming industry’s biggest challenge.
“I sat down with FanDuel. I sat down with DraftKings. I said, ‘Show me what I’m not seeing,’” Ortiz told the crowd at the Indian Gaming Tradeshow & Convention in San Diego. “They wanted 97 percent and control of my market. And I’m like, are you for me? Or are you just showing up to take tribal exclusivity, not pay taxes, and stomp all over us?”
Ortiz ultimately chose to go white-label and partner with Gambet. “We built it ourselves. It’s about sovereignty. It’s about our people. We’re one of the top retail sportsbooks in the country. Why would I give that away?”
He added that digital isn’t a replacement for brick and mortar. “Land-based got us here. Digital is how we scale, create community, and grow into the future. But you have to keep your teams together. These companies naturally want to split off and go their own way. You have to lead them.”
Ortiz detailed how Potawatomi has leaned into local culture, content creation, and high-impact activations. “We launched an esports studio, sold out live events, went number one on YouTube in Wisconsin. This is about engaging our guests in the channels they already live in.”
While Ortiz focused on digital sovereignty, other panelists underscored the importance of core operations and long-term strategy.
Mike Bean, CEO of Morongo Casino Resort & Spa, cautioned against chasing every new opportunity without a clear identity. “We ask three questions. Who are we? Who can we be? And most importantly, who should we be? You have to follow the data and know what your guests actually need, not just what sounds exciting.”
Seneca Gaming CEO Kevin Nephew stressed the value of consistency. “We’re investing in fundamentals. When someone walks into our property, we want them to feel welcome and come back. That’s what we measure.”
Kari Stout-Smith, COO of Cache Creek Casino Resort, emphasized unity and clarity among tribal leadership. “It’s evolving daily. And when tribal leaders come together without filters — not through lobbyists, not through lawyers — they find solutions,” she said. “The product we have today has to be stable if we expect to grow.”
She also warned about the rise of illegal gaming and underregulated sweepstakes models. “We’ve seen this cycle before. We’ve survived ipoker. We’re in the middle of the sports-betting fight. Sweepstakes casinos are likely next.”
The takeaway from all four leaders was clear: Future-proofing tribal gaming requires more than new tech and big ideas. It requires discipline, unity, and the will to protect sovereignty, while building for the next generation.
