Tribal Sports Betting Amendments Filed in Wyoming
Wyoming lawmakers filed amendments to the state’s legal sports betting law that would allow the Northern Arapahoe and Eastern Shoshone tribes to offer digital betting.
Filed Feb.10 and referred to the Travel, Recreation, Wildlife & Cultural Resources Committee Feb.18, the one-page amendment would allow for off-reservation platforms. Wagers placed in Indian Country would not be taxed, per the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, but those made elsewhere in Wyoming would. The tribes would be regulated and taxed by the state should the bill move forward.
Both tribes earlier this year testified against a gambling expansion that would have added online gambling to current offerings. And both have lobbied to be able to offer sports betting, which went live in November 2021.
HB 299 won’t move this session – the crossover deadline was Feb.12.
Western Indian Gaming Conference Set for Next Week
Tribal and industry leaders from across the West will gather next week at Pechanga Casino & Resort in California for the annual Western Indian Gaming Conference. The event is set for Feb. 24-27.
The group will honor Dale Miller for its Anna Sandoval Leadership Award, Kimberly Cluff for the Pauline Murillo Industry Leader Award, and James Ramos for its new Legislator of the Year Award at a luncheon set for 12:30 p.m. Feb.26.
The event will feature a tradeshow floor and five education tracks. The two-day education sessions Feb.26-27 will cover Tribal Government, Casino Operations and Security, Regulation, Finance & Business and Minimum Continuing Legal Education.
The event opens with a California Nations Indian Gaming Association meeting Feb.24 followed by a welcome reception.
Chilton Named CEO of Desert Diamond
Daniele Chilton was named CEO of Desert Diamond Casinos, the Tohono O’odham Gaming Enterprise (TOGE) announced Feb. 11. Chilton, who most recently served as COO, replaces Mike Bean, who left earlier this month to take over as CEO of California’s Morongo Casino Resort and Spa. She is now the first Tohono O’odham tribal member to serve as permanent CEO.
“We are thrilled to welcome Daniele as our new CEO. She has played an integral role in the operation’s success and has the expertise and experience to lead the Enterprise forward.” TOGE Chairman Jacob Moore said in a statement.
Prairie Flower Casino Opens New Expansion
On Feb. 17, the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska unveiled its new expanded Prairie Flower Casino in Carter Lake, Iowa. The new casino is seven times larger than the original building and now features 600 slots, a sportsbook and electronic table games.
“The tribe itself has twenty resources and services. Then we provide not only to Ponca tribal members, but Native Americans that live within our service delivery area. So, housing health care, three health care clinics, we’re hoping to expand here in Omaha and Omaha metro area so, all of that goes back to that,” Ponca Tribe Chairwoman Candace Schmidt told KTIV.
