Efforts by the Coquille Indian Tribe to create a new casino along South Pacific Highway in Medford face opposition from four Tribal Nations based in Northern California and Oregon. The Karuk, Cow Creek, Elk Valley, and Tolowa Dee-ni’ Tribes have united against the Coquille Tribe’s project, drafting a letter to Department of the Interior (DOI) Secretary Deb Haaland.

A New Casino Could Disrupt the Existing Balance

At the heart of the issue is the Coquille Tribe’s plan to place 2.4 acres of land into trusts through the DOI for the casino project. While this process typically only applies to land near a tribe’s reservation, the proposed site is 150 miles beyond the Coquille Tribe’s reservation. In contrast, the Karuk Tribe’s service area is within 50 miles of the location.

In a letter to DOI Secretary Deb Haaland, four neighboring tribal nations urged her to visit them before issuing an exception to the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act for the Coquille Tribe. Speaking for local news outlet KMTR, chair of the Karuk Tribe, Buster Attebery, expressed concerns about the lack of consultation with local tribes regarding the project’s potential economic impacts.

The economic consequences could be huge. It would devastate our ability to provide healthcare, public safety, social services.

Buster Attebery, Karuk Tribe chair 

Attebery emphasized the importance of consulting tribes with ancestral ties to the region, highlighting their millennia of best practices. The four nations opposing the project fear such a high-profile venue could create unnecessary competition and impact their revenue streams. Many tribes rely on their gaming businesses to ensure an adequate standard of living for their members, so Coquille’s project could be considered a hostile action.

The Coquille Tribe’s Efforts Span Several Years

Responding to the rising controversy, Coquille tribal chair Brenda Meade defended the project, citing the Coquille Restoration Act of 1989, authorizing the tribe to take land into trust for economic development within a designated reservation restoration area, including Jackson County. Meade expressed disappointment in the opposition from other tribes, emphasizing the Coquille Tribe’s rights within the reservation restoration area defined by Congress.

It is heartbreaking to us that other tribes, including tribes in California, continue to attack our sovereignty and seek to limit our economic development rights.

Brenda Meade, Coquille tribal chair

The project for a Medford casino previously faced significant opposition from Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek, who expressed concerns that the venue would negatively impact all of Oregon’s tribes and lead to a proliferation of gambling. Despite Kotek’s stance, the final decision rests with DOI, which previously rejected the Coquille Tribe’s effort.

As the dispute continues, the fate of the Coquille Tribe’s casino project hangs in the balance, with opposing Tribal Nations advocating for their sovereignty and economic interests in the region. While the new project technically meets the legal requirements, its implications and long-term impact have sparked ongoing debates that could reshape Oregon’s gaming landscape.

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As part of a new deal negotiated between the tribal gaming operator and the company, Anaxi has introduced the Mobile on-Premise solution which will allow casino guests who are playing on trust lands to enjoy Aristocrat Class II gaming machines via mobile devices.

New Mobile Solution Enables Class II Gambling on Trust Lands

This is a prelude to online casino gambling, although in a rather limited capacity that requires more tailored geofencing to be successful.

Anaxi, which operates under the Aristocrat roof, has been an established provider of digital products and has been working on both expanding the group’s iGaming presence but also on driving synergies with existing physical businesses that already work with Aristocrat.

Commenting on the latest opportunity, Anaxi SVP of iGaming Product & Technology Josh Morris said that the partnership was groundbreaking, and it was an arrangement of that type that would drive the company and the industry forward. The Mobile on-Premise solution is a forward-thinking experience that is designed to elevate the gambling experience at tribal gaming operators and beyond.

“We also thank our integration partners that have been part of this journey, helping to deliver this innovation solution,” Morris added.

The partnership sees the WinStar World Casino and Resort in Oklahoma, the biggest casino resort property in the world, benefit through the introduction of Class II games. Anaxi and WinStar also want to make sure that this collaboration is ongoing and that Anaxi’s platform continues to inject fresh content that allows players to get even more value with each visit.

The arrangement was welcomed by Chickasaw Nation Secretary of Commerce Dan Boren who was equally excited about the opportunity.

“The approval last year by the National Indian Gaming for alternate technical standards for the Chickasaw Nation Office of the Gaming Commissioners applicable to Class II mobile gaming provides us with the flexibility to take advantage of modern technology,” Boren explained.

Mobile Is the Future of Gambling, Land-Based and Otherwise

He also said that mobile gaming is one of the technologies that will continue to shape the future of gaming. The opportunity to introduce it to the WinStar casino and guests is just a first step in what Boren hopes will be a long and successful partnership with the innovative gaming operator.

Anaxi has been actively expanding its portfolio of partners over the past weeks, with the company teaming up with PENN Interactive and strengthening its iGaming brands. The company has similarly teamed up with Caesars and FanDuel, establishing its foothold in the North American market and the United States in particular.

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As a result, Table Trac Inc and Blackfeet Nation have signed an additional contract that builds upon their existing more-than-decade-long relationship. Table Trac is a leading company that focuses on the provision of casino information and management systems, as well as the automated monitoring of key performances for partner properties.

Bringing Table Trac’s Solutions to Long-Time Partner’s Newest Location

The renewed partnership will see Table Trac Inc install the CasinoTrac CMS system at The Peak Restaurant in Montana, which runs as a satellite location to the Glacier Peaks Hotel & Casino through the appropriate licensure. This collaboration was welcomed by Table Trac Inc president Chad Hoehne:

It’s always an exciting and significant event when an existing customer chooses CasinoTrac to grow alongside them.

Table Trac Inc president Chad Hoehne

Meanwhile, Glacier Peaks Casino general manager Heather Iron Shirt said that CasinoTrac would help consolidate the experience at The Peak Restaurant and deliver a great product to customers. The two companies go back a very long way indeed, with their first collaboration established in 2011 and bearing fruit over the past decade.

“Most important, is being a partner with a community leader of the Blackfeet Nation’s stature. Their recent collaboration driving human trafficking awareness and active shooter training is something to be proud of, real-time issues of universal concern,” Hoehne stated.

The Blackfeet Indian Reservation hosts 17,321 tribal members and the tribal operator leverages its sovereignty and established footprint in the gaming industry to maintain financial stability for its members as well as address other tribal matters.

Table Trac Remains Committed to Growth and Strengthing Partnerships

Table Trac has been working to actively promote itself as the go-to solution to land-based properties seeking to consolidate their operations and boost core performance results. The company has recently gone on a hiring spree, bringing in Theresa Birtalan as head of new business, Thomas Florio as business development in Eastern US and new territories, and not least – Jeff Baldi as SVP of commercial strategy.

Table Trac has been maintaining healthy relationships and collaborations with both the commercial and tribal gaming sectors, and the company intends to continue doing so in the future. The company similarly has multiple ongoing collaborations that have been growing over the past ten and more years exemplifying Table Trac’s ability to deliver consistently robust results for its partners.  

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In December, the EC updated its rules regarding high-risk third countries. The nations included in the ignoble list face systemic anti-money laundering (AML) or countering the financing of terrorism (CFT) failings. The recent inclusion of Gibraltar deserves special mention, as the territory is one of the largest online gambling hubs. Tightening regulations may significantly hamper the day-to-day operations of operators stationed there, forcing them to search for alternatives.

An EC Listing Is Bad News for Everyone Involved

The EC is one of the founding members of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). The international organization focuses on preserving the financial system’s integrity by combating money laundering, the financing of terrorism, and other such threats. As such, the Commission’s list of high-risk third countries carries significant negative implications for all nations unfortunate enough to be included.

A recent warning by the EU may significantly impact businesses involved with such countries. Regulators now face increased pressure to ensure due diligence and will likely crack down on all related parties. Such updated rules may significantly impact many gambling operators, especially those operating out of Gibraltar. The accompanying loss of face can also have severe long-term consequences.

Gibraltar-Licensed Operators Will Face Rising Difficulties

The FATF greylisted the territory in June 2021, followed by an EC listing as a high-risk third country. The implications of such measures for a thriving financial hub like Gibraltar are not pleasant, as all transactions in and out of the country will face increased scrutiny and potential delays. 

The gambling industry, in particular, will bear the brunt of the impact. As of May 2022, the territory hosts 45 licensed online gaming operators employing over 2000 people. The EU demanded enhanced due diligence measures from all businesses and individuals involved with listed nations. 

Such measures aim to combat money laundering and terrorist financing, maintaining the financial system’s integrity. Despite the EC’s attempts to cooperate with local governments and address the issues behind the listing, implementing an action plan can sometimes take years. Meanwhile, bureaucratic pressures can drive current licensees away and dissuade operators from considering a Gibraltar registration.

The Government Aims to Preserve Gibraltar’s Reputation

The EC listing is a significant black mark in Gibraltar’s ongoing efforts to prove its regime robust and effective. Andrew Lyman, the territory’s chief commissioner for gambling, denied any AML/CTF deficiencies, insisting that the local regulator was doing an adequate job. However, the EC did not share the sentiment, leading to this unfavorable situation.

A FATF greylisting can significantly hamper a nation’s international prospects, disincentivizing foreign investments. Despite ongoing uncertainty, Gibraltar’s economic attractiveness and favorable licensing conditions helped it secure several new high-profile licenses. However, the subsequent EC listing may significantly degrade the country’s reputation, meaning the government is hard-pressed to address its ongoing issues.

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