Bingo Nation Inc., a tribal gaming entity, last week announced the appointment of David Matheson to its board of directors.
Matheson, 65 is well-known for his key role in the development of Indian gaming for the last 30 years. As such a prominent personality in the industry, his appointment to such a young company is seen as highly unusual.
Matheson in 1989 was appointed to serve as Deputy Commissioner for Indian Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior, where he oversaw the implementation of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988 (IGRA.) He late served as an advisor to the President’s Commission on Tribal Colleges and Universities and then in 1994 was chosen chief executive office of the Coeur d’Alene Casino & Resort Hotel in Idaho.
Bingo Nation Inc. is trying to create a market in cross-border gaming, which has been impossible up until now as IGRA prevents Indian casinos from operating outside of their borders, and would seem to prevent such things as Indian casino Powerball.
But it’s not that the law would prevent such a thing, but the logistics of linking the various Indian casinos. For example, it would be difficult to sell tickets. Bingo Nation seeks to do what has not been done before and start a national lottery that would be able to operate across tribal borders. It would, of course, have to operate within Class II gaming regulations.
Bingo Nation would not sell tickets online, but through kiosks that would be located within reservations. Tribes would rent the kiosks from Bingo Nation. This would allow for a national lottery—without leaving reservation borders.
Matheson’s involvement in what is essentially a start-up would seem to signal a high degree of respectability. His prestige is such that if he sees the product as viable, others will see it that way too. That may help Bingo Nation raise capital to help it reach its target of 3,000 kiosks nationwide.
