Responding to the controversy surrounding Coquille’s proposed casino project in Medford, Oregon, Brenda Meade, the chair of the Coquille Indian Tribe, has spoken out against the criticism and misinformation spread by opposing tribes. The project has faced significant backlash from several tribes in California and Oregon, who claim that the Coquille was “reservation shopping” and attempting to add land unjustifiably.

The Casino Project Should Bolster Local Communities

Speaking for OregonLive, Meade described how the casino project came into existence. In 2012, the Coquille Tribe applied to take land into trust in Medford, part of their designated service area, for a new on-reservation casino. She noted that the proposed casino, though small, would enable the tribe to expand services and address the needs of their citizens, families, and the broader community.

According to Meade, Medford had the second-highest concentration of Coquille citizens at the time of the tribe’s restoration, justifying the casino project. She emphasized that the Coquille Tribe’s struggle for recognition and rights has been fraught with challenges stemming from historical injustices, including termination and dispossession, expressing dismay that ignorance and misinformation continued to undermine their rights and sovereignty.

Although some things have improved for us, ignorance still leads to ongoing attacks on our rights and sovereignty.

Brenda Meade, Coquille Indian Tribe chair

Meade criticized the opposing tribes’ claims of “off-reservation” gaming and “reservation shopping,” describing these accusations as baseless and rooted in a misunderstanding of tribal land rights. She drew attention to the Coquille Restoration Act, which established a five-county service area for reservation building, influenced by federal policies that dispersed the tribe across the landscape.

Ongoing Lobbying Could Damage Tribal Sovereignty

According to Meade, misleading claims by other tribes had gained traction due to their excessive lobbying as they were afraid of losing their undisputed gaming monopoly along Oregon’s I-5 corridor. She referred to these accusations as baseless, referring to the Coquille Restoration Act as definitive proof that the tribe was within its rights to proceed with the casino project.

Meade appealed to fellow tribal leaders and supporters of tribal rights, urging them to prioritize tribal sovereignty over competitive interests. She recounted how the Coquille Tribe had once faced competition concerns from a neighboring tribe but chose to support tribal rights over maintaining exclusivity. The resulting agreement benefited both parties, highlighting how cooperation could build lasting prosperity.

I would be happy to speak with any tribal leader on how to balance concerns about competition in a way that lifts us all while protecting Oregon’s economy and environment.

Brenda Meade, Coquille Indian Tribe chair

Meade argued that the current backlash could set an unfortunate precedent, subjecting any tribal restoration to years of legal action as millions get wasted on lobbying. Her call for unity and respect for sovereignty was a poignant reminder of the importance of supporting tribal communities in their ongoing fight for recognition and self-determination.

The post Coquille Tribe Responds to Backlash against Oregon Casino Project appeared first on Keno Wizard.

As sports betting continues to grow across the United States, more and more players across many states become involved in the hobby. This is strongly reflected in the increasing financial results posted by regulators across multiple jurisdictions. Oregon, for example, smashed its sports betting handle once again, posting a new all-time high figure.

For reference, bettors in The Beaver State wagered a total of $73.2 million on sports in December, surpassing the previous record of $71.9 million set in October last year. The figure is also 38.1% higher than the $53.8 million wagered in December 2022.

American football was the most popular sport in December and was singlehandedly responsible for almost a third of the total handle. For reference, football fans in Oregon wagered $23.1 million on football in December.

The second most popular sport was basketball, which attracted $16.5 million in wagers. Next up were soccer in ice hockey with $3.3 million and $2 million in wagers respectively.

Single bets remained overwhelmingly more popular, attracting $48.1 million in wagers. Parlay wagers, on the other hand, were responsible for $25.1 million of the total handle.

December was a record-breaking month for a number of other states as well, including Maryland. New Jersey and Massachusetts also posted strong results.

Oregon’s Revenue Smashed October’s Record

Oregon’s revenue results were also at their all-time high as DraftKings, the only legal sports betting operator in the state, posted revenue of $9.7 million. This figure represents a stellar 70.2% year-on-year increase and a 14.1% increase from October’s previous record of $8.5 million.

Sport by sport, the revenue metrics reflect the most popular sports in the state. Football was responsible for $3.5 million of the total revenue, followed by basketball at $2.9 million and football at approximately $606,000.

While single wagers were generally more popular, the revenue from parlay bets exceeded the revenue from singles. For reference, parlay bets generated $5.7 million in revenue, while single wagers brought in $4 million.

Last year, Oregon and DraftKings agreed to expand the number of available offerings, allowing fans in the state to wager on several more unusual disciplines. This included the Tour de France, Major League Baseball’s Home Run Derby, the American Cornhole League World Championship and, most notably, Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest.

The post Oregon Posts Record-Breaking December Results appeared first on Keno Wizard.

The first day of 2024 brings us an interesting duel at State Farm Stadium where the Liberty Flames will try to upset the odds and beat the Oregon Ducks.

If they do it, it’s going to be their 14^th straight win. Meanwhile, the Ducks are looking to bounce back after losing their most recent game to the Washington Huskies.

Liberty Flames vs. Oregon Ducks Fiesta Bowl Odds

9560 players claimed the offer this month

When, Where, and How to Watch?

• Place: State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Arizona   
• Date: Monday, January 1, 2024
• Time: 1:00 p.m. ET
• How to Watch: ESPN

The confidence is high in the locker room of the Liberty Flames, who have been brilliant under coach Jamey Chadwell. With him in charge, they won every single game they played in 2023.

We saw them go 13-0 in the Conference USA, with their most recent game seeing them beat New Mexico State for the conference title.

These guys were brilliant offensively in 2023, scoring 40.8 points per game on average. That makes the Flames the No. 5 offense in the nation. The Flames are 1^st in the nation when it comes to rushing yards per game with 302.9 yards on average.

Their running back Quinton Cooley looks like someone who’s got a very bright future in the NFL. This guy will have to put on a real good show on January 1 in the 2024 Fiesta Bowl because his team is taking on one of the best defenses in the nation.

Can Oregon’s Defense Stop Liberty?

The Ducks are the eighth-highest-ranked college football team in the US, going 11-2 in 2023. Noth of their losses happened to the Washington Huskies, who are the No. 2 team in the nation.

However, they’ve been doing great against teams ranked outside the top 10. In 2023, we saw them win against Oregon State, USC, Arizona State, and many others.

Their offense has been good constantly for (at least) the past 12 months, with their average being 41.1 PPG. When it comes to their defense, they’re 12^th in the nation, allowing 18.2 points per game on average.

Liberty Flames vs. Oregon Ducks 2024 Fiesta Bowl

The Oregon Ducks are just better than the Liberty Flames, which is why they’re favored to win the 2024 Fiesta Bowl. We think they’re going to win it, but we don’t think they’re going to have an easy job on January 1.

The Flames are great when it comes to running the ball and their defense is alright as well. Although they don’t look capable of winning, we can definitely see them covering the 17-point spread.

Pick: Liberty Flames +17.0

The post Liberty Flames vs. Oregon Ducks 2024 Fiesta Bowl Odds, Time, and Prediction appeared first on Keno Wizard.

The Washington Huskies are 10-0 in the 2023 NCAAF season and are determined to stay undefeated until the end of the season. They’re left with only two games to play before the end, the first of which is against the Oregon State Beavers who are 8-2 right now.

Although the Huskies have a much more illustrious history than the Beavers, the recent couple of duels between these two were pretty close. In fact, the last time they met, the Huskies won by just three points. Further, the last time a Washington vs. Oregon State duel took place at Reser Stadium, the home team won.

Washington Huskies vs. Oregon State Beavers Week 12 Odds

*Odds taken from FanDuel on Thursday, November 16.

When, Where, and How to Watch?

• Place: Reser Stadium (Oregon State University Campus) in Corvallis, Oregon
• Date: Saturday, November 18, 2023
• Time: 7:30 PM ET
• How to Watch: ABC

Washington Huskies Wanna Keep on Winning

The Huskies are 10-0 on the season and it’s mostly thanks to their incredible offense. These guys are averaging 41.0 points per game, which is second only to the Oregon Ducks in the Pac-12 Conference.

Their quarterback Michael Penix Jr. has been great both when it comes to passing and rushing the ball. He’s thrown for a total of 3,533 yards in the 2023 college football season, with 28 of his passes resulting in a touchdown. Plus, in his last two outings, we saw him score two rushing TDs.