Several successful Indian casinos are following the national gaming trend in diversification into non-gaming amenities, by building retail outlets.
The Turning Stone Resort Casino is building a 60-store outlet complex in the Mohawk Valley.
Foxwoods Resort Casino plans to open a retail outlet next year around Memorial Day.
Then Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma recently announced plans for a retail complex combined with entertainment venues that it plans to develop over the next few years.
According to John Dossett, interviewed by the Observer-Dispatch, “Retail is definitely a trend in many parts of Indian country over the last five to 10 years. It existed before then, of course, but it has been increasing quite a bit over the last decade.”
The proliferation of several non-Indian casinos in New York state are prompting existing Indian casinos to spread their assets around a little more in an increasingly uncertain market. “They don’t want to be completely dependent on gaming because they know that market could change,” Dossett added, “Every state and local government tries to diversify their economy. Sometimes, that is easier said than done, but everybody wants a diversified economy because it is more stable.”
Mayors of the cities where Connecticut’s two Indian casinos are located say that one kind of job is as good as another. They like retail jobs as well as casino jobs.
