Gaming Law International

Manitoba to Give Gaming Revenue to Aboriginal Groups

According to the Winnipeg Sun, the government of Manitoba has agreed to give aboriginal groups in that province $4 million a year from provincial gaming revenue over the next five years. Currently, aboriginal groups keep the gaming revenue from on-reserve casinos and 90% of the revenue from on-reserve video lottery terminals. Aboriginal groups in the province are also lobbying to regulate on-reserve gambling, a move which, if approved, would result in the creation of a second and separate gaming regulatory body in Manitoba. It would oversee gaming on reserves and would replace the Manitoba Gaming Control Commission as the gaming authority for on-reserve gaming.

Ontario Aboriginal Bands to get Cut of Provincial Gambling Revenues

Beginning in 2011, Ontario's aboriginal bands will receive 1.6% of the provincial gross gambling revenue, likely worth $100 million. The annual payments will be in addition to the $90 million in revenue aboriginal bands received from Casino Rama. Read more here. 

Six Nations To Consider Online Gambling

The Six Nations Indian Band is considering holding a referendum to vote on whether to offer licencing and technology services to online gambling companies situated offshore. If the referendum is held and approved, the Six Nations Council or an operating company thereof, would provide gaming technology and licencing services modeled on a similar service offered by the Kahnawake Indian Reservation. The Six Nations Council is concerned with, inter alia, the possible criminal liability of sanctioning online gambling. Under Canada's Criminal Code, only the provinces have the legislative competence to conduct gaming online. 

Potawatomi Gambling Deal

A new 25-year gambling compact was approved between the U.S. federal government and the Potawatomi Indian band (or tribe) yesterday, which is expected to generate $43.6 million (USD) in revenue for the state of Wisconsin. Read more in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel here.

Off-Reservation Aboriginal Gaming Still a Contentious Issue in the US

The Wisconsin Legislature approved a bill today that requires legislative approval for Wisconsin Indian tribes to build off-reservation casinos. Under U.S. federal law, only a state governor and the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs ("BIA") must agree on a proposed off-reservation casino. The Wisconsin bill would now prohibit the governor from agreeing with a BIA decision unless the Legislature also agrees. The bill may still be vetoed by the Wisconsin governor. More here.

National Indian Gaming Commission

The U.S. Senate Indian Affairs Committee is holding hearings to review a U.S. District Court ruling last month which held that the National Indian Gaming Commission ("NIGC") did not have the authority to inspect the books of a Class III casino operated by Colorado River Indian Tribes. The decision calls into question the extent of the authority of the NIGC in the U.S. and its jurisdiction over Indian gaming. A Class III gaming licence, illegal in some states, includes Las Vegas style games such as craps, roulette and black jack.

California Opens Door to Two New Off-Reservation Casinos

California's governor Schwarzenegger yesterday announced a deal that would allow two aboriginal bands (Indian tribes in the US) to build and operate two off-reservation casinos. The proposed casinos would be located en route to Las Vegas. Under the deal, the Big Lagoon Band, from Northern California, and the Los Coyotes Band of Cahuilla and Cupeno Indians of San Diego County would be able to open separate casinos, each with 2,250 slot machines. If the plan goes through, the bands will own and operate among the largest casinos in the country. The bands would pay 25% of the profits from slot machines and card games to the state. The deals must be ratified by the state legislature and federal officials. The L.A. Times story is here.