Covid-19 is Killing Native American Casino Revenue
Written by: Sasha Bell
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Source: https://variety.com/2018/gaming/news/tribal-gaming-helps-california-american-indians-1202959246/ |
Covid-19 has been detrimental in the downfall of hundreds of thousands of small businesses not only in the United states, but around the world. States as well as countries have gone into a state of seclusion we are calling quarantine.
For weeks now, stores and restaurants have been closed down to the public in an attempt to lessen the impact of this pandemic. Larger businesses such as Walmart and Amazon are surviving the exponential loss of revenue but small, local businesses in many states have suffered greatly.
With the downfall of many small businesses, America is seeing a huge decrease in the amount of Native American owned casinos surviving the pandemic’s revenue loss. According to 500nations, Native American casinos have lost at least 1.5 billion in just economic activity. This includes gaming and non-gaming revenue within the casinos.
The chairman of Bay Mills Indian Community, Bryan Newland, was forced to announce that the tribal government could no longer pay the four-hundred workers and employees at Bay Mills Golf Courses, casinos, departments as well as their tribal businesses.
Chairman Bryan Newland is not the only person dealing with the hardships of Covid-19, but many places have yet to receive the 8 billion dollar support promised by the government to small businesses around the US.
According to Anna V. Smith, journalist and writer of, Casino closures in Indian Country hit core tribal services, an article about the loss of sales for tribal country, she states, “the loss of profits will mean less funding for law enforcement, schools and other essential services, as well as scholarships, daycare and cultural programs”.
Much of many tribes' economic backing comes from the money made from gaming, and the loss of this money for tribes is going to put them as well as their families at risk. Many tribal leaders and urging the government to give them Paycheck Protection programs. This would allow for protection of businesses with under five-hundred employees and workers.
Tribes that have received the help from the CARES Act have been discussing how to spread the money out to help tribes in need but some tribal leaders, such as Newland believe the act is pinning tribes against each other, making them compete for money so their businesses and homes can stay afloat.
Sources:
https://www.hcn.org/articles/covid19-casino-closures-in-indian-country-hit-core-tribal-se rvices
https://www.500nations.com/indian-gaming.asp#20200408
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