The Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana announced a groundbreaking ceremony for the expansion of its Coushatta Casino Resort, a casino complex near Kinder. The ceremony is set to take place on March at 10 am and will celebrate the construction of a new eight-story hotel.

According to the announcement, the new hotel will sport some 204 rooms and 100 suites and will be connected to the casino. This will provide visitors with easy access to the gaming area, allowing them to enjoy the tribe’s gaming offerings.

For reference, the casino offers some 2,000 slot games and over 55 table games, meaning that in addition to cutting-edge slots, visitors can enjoy games, such as poker and bingo. The casino resort is also equipped with a sportsbook, allowing visitors to place wagers on sporting events.

By boosting the capacity of the resort, the Coushatta Tribe will be able to accommodate more guests, while creating new jobs for people in the locale. The new luxury hotel will bring the total capacity of the Coushatta Casino Resort to more than 1,000 rooms.

The Tribe Wants to Provide Guests with Premium Lodging

The groundbreaking ceremony will be attended by many notable representatives of the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana, including Coushatta Tribal Council chairman Jonathan Cernek and Coushatta Casino Resort general manager Todd Stewart. In addition, the event will welcome representatives of TBE Architects, Yates Construction and the Wenaha Group.

The ceremony will be held at the Sculpture Garden in front of the Seven Clans Hotel. The program will include Coushatta Tribe dancers and drummers and a cake-cutting ceremony. The event will be open to the public.

Jonathan Cernek, chairman of the Coushatta Tribal Council, expressed his excitement about the upgrade, saying that he is looking forward to the completion of the new hotel and to welcoming its first guests. He said that the tribe’s goal is to offer an elevated gaming experience to players by providing them with high-quality lodging and premium dining options.

Cernek added:

The Coushatta Tribe is leading the way in building an unsurpassed resort destination, both in the local market and in the entire region.

Jonathan Cernek, chair, Coushatta Tribal Council

Speaking of tribal gaming, tribal organizations recently held the 4th Annual Tribal Cybersecurity Summit. During the event, experts raised the problem of the human element being the greatest vulnerability faced by tribes.

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For more than a decade, the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians (SSM Tribe) has been making efforts to expand its land-based presence with the development of two new casinos. While the Tribe currently operates five Kewadin Casinos around Michigan’s upper peninsula, it has been pursuing expansion to Lansing and New Boston.

The efforts of the SSM Tribe included purchasing land at the two aforementioned locations back in 2012. At the time, the Tribe purchased 2.3 acres of land in Lansing, as well as 71 acres in New Boston. Ultimately, the land was expected to be used by the Tribe for its new casinos which are expected to bring economic stimulus.

According to the SSM Tribe, the land for the two sites was purchased via its Self-Sufficiency Fund. While the Tribe asked the US Department of Interior (DOI), to take the land into trust, which is required for the building of casinos, the agency refused to do so. Citing the Michigan Indian Land Claims Settlement Act (MILCSA), the DOI rejected the request of the Tribe to take the land into trust in 2017. At the time, the agency explained that per MILCSA, the tribe cannot use the Self-Sufficiency Fund for gambling activities.

The Legal Fight Continues

Disagreeing with the DOI, the SSM Tribe launched a lawsuit in 2018. It said that the agency’s decision was in breach of the MILCSA and may stifle its further growth and welfare. However, the DOI’s decision was later reaffirmed by US District Judge Trevor N. McFadden.

However, as announced by PlayMichigan, the SSM Tribe hasn’t given up on the legal fight. The latest episode of the legal saga saw the Tribe raise the matter with the DC Circuit Court. In its legal claim, the SSM Tribe asked the Circuit Court to overturn McFadden’s ruling that reaffirmed the DOI was correct to reject taking the lands into trust under MILCSA.

If the DC Circuit Court overturns the ruling, the Tribe may finally achieve an important milestone in the planned expansion of its land-based portfolio. In case this happens, the land must be taken into trust, paving the way for the development of the Tribe’s two new venues planned in Lansing and New Detroit.

Elsewhere in Michigan, last month, Fanatics Betting and Gaming rolled out its iGaming and sports betting application. The launch made Michigan the thirteenth state where Fanatics has established its sports betting operations and the third state where Fanatics Casino is available.

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Two of the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma’s properties, namely the Indigo Sky Casino and Resort and Outpost Casino, have experienced data security incidents in December. In relation to that, the two gambling venues are now notifying customers whose personal data might have been compromised.

The issue was first discovered by Indigo Sky, which discovered unusual activity on its network and immediately launched an investigation into the matter. After it understood that data may have been compromised, the property initiated steps to protect its systems.

In addition to that, Indigo Sky contacted law enforcement and employed the services of a forensic security company. As a result, the company understood that a third party had indeed breached its systems and had accessed some documents.

The Shawnee property explained that the documents in question might have contained sensitive data, such as employees’ personal information, as well as the personal data of some of the casino’s customers. Indigo Sky specified that the compromised data may have included the names, social security numbers and driver’s license numbers of the affected individuals.

However, Indigo Sky emphasized that no customer banking data or other financial information has been acquired by the third party.

Indigo Sky Advised Affected Individuals to Protect Their Identities

Yesterday, Indigo Sky contacted individuals whose data might have been compromised via mail, offering them complimentary credit monitoring and identity theft protection services to make up for the incident. Indigo Sky customers and affected workers should refer to the emails for further information or contact Indigo Sky via phone.

Indigo Sky elaborated on the matter, saying that its patrons should “remain vigilant” and be wary of potential fraud and/or identity theft. For starters, the property suggested that its customers should review their account statements and monitor credit reports closely.

If customers detect any suspicious activity, they should contact the financial institution or company with which the account is maintained, Indigo Sky suggested. The property also urged clients to refer to law enforcement authorities.

Those who wish to know more about protecting their accounts and identities can also read the Federal Trade Commission’s tips on fraud and identity theft.

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For starters, the Menominee Indian Tribe wants to work in partnership with Hard Rock, the brand owned by the Seminole Tribe of Florida, which recently launched sports betting in the Sunshine State despite strong local opposition.

The collaboration between the two was previously known, but the Menominee Indian Tribe is hoping to elicit a stronger response from lawmakers on whose goodwill the proposed project hinges. A vote at the city council authorizing the sale of a crucial piece of land to the tribe was due earlier this year, but the process was eventually postponed, and the issue has hit a hiatus.

Menominee Indian Tribe Resolved about Kenosha Casino

Now, tribal leaders want to associate themselves with the prominent brand and bring about a 70,000-square-foot casino which will house 1,500 slot machines along with 55 live dealer table games and a dedicated sportsbook.

Sports betting is available in Wisconsin through a tribal compact negotiated with the state, allowing the Menominee Indian Tribe to run sports betting operations. Holding onto this opportunity, the tribe now wants to secure a partnership that will see its investment pay off.

Spending $360 million on a casino resort seems intuitive to the tribe, and the right way to ensure the sustainability of tribal operations and the community they serve. Commenting on the new project, Menominee Kenosha Gaming Authority chairman Joey Awonohopay noted that the time to move forward with this project felt right.

“The plan is to build it all out immediately. We intend to secure funding to build it all out,” he added. Interestingly, this is not the first time the tribe has tried to establish a casino resort, nor is it the most grandiose design to begin with.

Earlier attempts to see the Menominee Tribe establish a casino were snubbed by Gov. Scott Walker who took a dim view of allowing gambling to proliferate on his watch. The Menominee Tribe’s eye-watering $800 million investment did not prove enough to sway the governor and change his mind.

Although the exact price tag of the new investment is now established, there are hurdles to clear as well. The tribe would have to convince Kenosha to sell it 60 acres of city-owned land, expanding the tribe’s sovereignty this way, but it’s not that simple, as the purchase itself is not enough to put the land under the tribe’s sovereignty alone, and the federal government would have to step in.

Negotiating a New Tribal Compact

Should this plan clear, the tribe would also need to accomplish what it couldn’t under Walker’s watch – ask for Class III permission to run gambling operations in the state. The current governor, Tony Evers, seems to be a little less gung-ho when it comes to gambling, but whether the Menominee Tribe convinces him is another matter altogether.

Awonohopay is confident that the tribe is indeed going to bring a lot of value to the city and the state, and the Menominee Tribe is moving forward to publicize its plans in the hopes of raising awareness for the project and the argued benefits therein.

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The only US-based sports betting operator integrated vertically, DraftKings Inc., has revealed its plans to launch an online sports wagering app in Maine through a new deal with the Passamaquoddy Tribe, a federally recognized Indian Tribe based in Washington County, Maine. 

Maine, Ready to Officially Open the Market

The two parties have reached an agreement in principle which is still subject to the standard licensing and regulatory approvals. The launch will mark the digital sports entertainment and gaming company’s 25th US state launch.

The Passamaquoddy Tribe is one of the four Indigenous tribes that will control the state’s online sports betting market which will officially launch on November 3, at 9 am, according to the Department of Public Safety. 

The Penobscot, Maliseet, and Micmac nations are the other three tribes that will hold exclusive rights to operate online sports wagering apps while securing at least half of the mobile revenue. Maine will receive 10% in taxes. Part of the amount will cover federal taxes.

At the end of August, DraftKings opened a permanent sportsbook at Queen Baton Rouge, the gaming establishment built at the site of the previous Hollywood Casino.

The Deal, a “Huge Step Forward” for Local Communities

According to Pleasant Point Tribal government’s chief, Pos Basset, the Sipayik tribe, which is one of the tribe’s two reservations alongside Motahkomikuk, has already expressed its excitement for the deal signed with DraftKings “the industry leaders.”

According to Basset, Sipayik was eager to contribute to introducing sports fans and bettors in Maine to a “first-class mobile sports wagering experience,” calling it a huge step forward for both the local community and the Pine Tree State. 

Passamaquoddy Tribe’s chief, William Nicholas, expressed similar views regarding the new partnership, adding they “couldn’t have landed a better organization in the mobile sports wagering arena.” Nicholas also took the opportunity to express their eagerness to see ongoing progress and more investments that will promote the future development of the state. 

DraftKing, the Passamaquoddy Tribe’s Official Mobile Sports Betting Provider 

According to DraftKing’s co-founder and chief executive officer, Jason Robins, the new relationship with the Tribe which currently counts 3,000 members represents “a fantastic opportunity” for the sportsbook in the context of their plans to introduce Maine customers to safe and legalized forms of sports wagering. 

Robins also took the opportunity to express their desire to keep close ties with the Maine Gambling Control Unit. The bureau, which is part of the Department of Public Safety, is responsible for regulating, supervising, and controlling “the ownership and operations of slot machine and table games in casinos and the operation of advance deposit wagering.”

The CEO also explained that the new agreement, which would allow sports aficionados who are at least 21 years old to use their “innovative, immersive and entertaining sportsbook app,” will also turn the company into the official online sports betting provider of the Passamaquoddy Tribe. 

Maine customers will be given access to a plethora of betting alternatives ranging from in-game betting, pre-match, same-game-parlay options created in-house, and signature options. 

In the same press release used to showcase the new agreement, DraftKings also announced it would make a $100,000 donation to the Lewiston-Auburn Area Response Fund to show support for those who have been affected by the tragic events that occurred in Lewiston last week.

In September, DraftKings announced it would offer Hacksaw Gaming’s gaming content to customers in West Virginia, turning into the second operator to do so. 

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The Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma’s latest press release revealed some of its plans regarding the new project, including its approximate location. Onboarding Caesars as a management partner will add much-needed expertise, while the Harrah’s brand will substantially bolster the new venue’s appeal. The partnership builds on Caesars Entertainment’s relationship with US tribes and should significantly benefit both parties.

Details about the New Project Are Still Scarce

Little is yet known regarding the Iowa Tribe’s newest integrated resort project. The initial press release places the venue somewhere off Interstate 44. Given the Iowa Tribe’s reservation boundaries, that would put the casino resort between Tulsa and Oklahoma City. While the tribe did not announce a start date for construction, Caesars’ involvement should significantly speed up the process.

The leading casino operator was a natural choice for the Iowa Tribe thanks to its history of successful partnerships with US tribes. Recently, the company expressed its intention to partner with tribes in Maine, hopefully overcoming the region’s inhospitable business environment. Compared to that, cooperating on a new integrated resort in a developed market should not pose a challenge.

Both Parties Were Excited to Bolster Oklahoma Gaming

The Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma currently runs two properties- Cimarron Casino and Ioway Casino. A new property under the Harrah’s brand should bring significant long-term returns, providing guests with a world-class experience. Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma Chairman Perri Ahhaitty lauded the operator’s contributions to tribal gaming and expressed confidence in the new venue’s future success.

We look forward to a long and prosperous relationship with Caesars and the local community with the brand-new Harrah’s right here in Oklahoma.

Perri Ahhaitty, Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma Chairman

If successful, the new casino will be a significant boon to the tribe, providing much-needed employment opportunities and bolstering the resources available to local communities. Caesars Entertainment SVP of Development Robert Livingston was proud to partner with the Iowa Tribe and help them achieve their objectives. The move should also be a significant boon to the operator, extending its reach into the Sooner State.

With properties throughout the Midwest, Harrah’s is the perfect brand fit for Oklahoma.

Robert Livingston, Caesars Entertainment SVP of Development

Such partnerships form the cornerstone of Caesars’ growth strategy. While such aggressive expansion has incurred substantial financial debt, the operator’s Q1 report indicates strong investment returns. The upcoming Harrah’s casino in Oklahoma should be no exception, building on the company’s success and strengthening its relationship with local tribes.

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The owner of Ilani Casino Resort in Ridgefield, Washington, the Cowlitz Indian Tribe, is considering cutting ties with its casino management partner, the business arm of the Mohegan Tribe, Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment.

Sizeable Management Fee

The Cowlitz Tribe opened its Ilani Casino Resort in 2017 and since the first day of operation, the casino management was contracted to Mohegan. The seven-year contract involves a 24% net revenue management fee and the Cowlitz Tribe is considering its options beyond June 2024 when it expires, according to a statement issued by the Cowlitz Tribal Council.

The sizeable management fee of the contract is enough of a motive for tribal leaders to consider going on their own, believes Robert Whelan, a Portland-based economist who tracks the gaming industry. Cited by Oregonlive, Whelan also noted that tribes that initially outsource their casino management usually take it in-house once they gain experience.

The Cowlitz Tribal Council and Cowlitz Tribal Gaming Commission spent the past weekend in a joint executive work session to discuss gaming management agreements.

Cowlitz Tribe statement

“A public vote on the gaming management agreement will take place at an upcoming Tribal Council meeting. No decision on gaming management has been made by Tribal Council at this time,” the statement concluded.

Cutting Ties May Be Risky

When approached by the reporting media, Cowlitz Tribe leaders declined to comment on the story but other tribal members expressed their concerns at the tribe’s ability to go forward managing the casino on its own, pointing to weak leadership and too much dysfunction.

Dumping the Mohegan may prove costly to the tribe as Ilani Casino Resort is one of the most successful casinos in the Northwest, estimated to be generating between $400 million and $500 million in gross gaming revenue annually, allowing the Cowlitz Tribe to continue paying the sizeable management fee.

The 110,000-square-foot casino features nearly 3,000 slot machines, 75 table games, and a sportsbook and is located close to Portland. The construction of a 14-story hotel adjacent to the casino is nearly complete and is expected to drive sales further.

The tribal property which is one of the most popular tourist sites in Clark County, attracting more than 3 million visitors per year, as well as a major employer, providing work for 1,500 people, has been under a federal investigation for a while. For the past six months, the FBI has been probing the resort for possible violations of the antitrust laws for alleged efforts to keep competing casinos away from Ilani.

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The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors gave the Dry Creek Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians approval on March 1 to construct a $300 million luxury tribal casino resort on the current River Rock Casino near Geyserville.

The gaming venue will replace the tribe-owned River Rock Casino and be built on the property located in the Alexandria Valley.

Since the Graton Casino Resort in Rohnert Park was launched in 2013, River Rock casino has suffered financially. The casino is owned by Federated Band of Graton Rancheria and is the largest gaming venue in Northern California. It cuts down on visits to River Rock via the Bay Area.

Graton Rancheria is also making plans to expand its gaming section significantly and build another hotel tower. The already troubled River Rock casino will face even more issues once these new additions are completed. However, the new casino could seriously threaten Graton’s grasp on the local gaming market after completion.

In a statement to the board, Dry Creek Rancheria president Chris Wright revealed that the tribe looked forward to working with the government in the future.

“I think we’ve come up with an MOA (memorandum of agreement) that is fair to the tribe and fair to the county. I look forward to a government to government relationship going forward,” Wright said.

River Rock Casino consists of a 60,000-square-foot gaming hall with 1,200 slot machines. The new casino resort will have a gaming hall of approximately the same size but with 300 more slot machines. It will also have a 300-room hotel, a spa, a wedding chapel, and several other amenities.

Per the terms of the agreement, the Dry Creek Rancheria tribe was expected to pay $750,000 to the county annually for at least four years after the project was completed. When the time elapses, a 2% annual increase will be required. However, no matter the revenue reeled in, the amounts paid each year will not exceed $1.5 million.

The current plans for the casino project are a compromise between Sonoma County and the tribe. Several parties are against the casino expansion, including the Alexander Valley Association, which represents the county’s families, businesses, and farmers.

Karin Warnelius-Miller, the association’s president, revealed that they were incensed by the expansion and had no intentions of standing down. The association has been part of some previous negotiations.

In 2008 the Dry Creeks tribe proposed to build an 88,000-square-foot casino with around 3,000 poker machines and a hotel with 600 rooms but altered its plans. They also decided to forestall the building of another gaming venue on the property located in Petaluma, at least until 2032.

According to an earlier agreement with the state, the tribe was permitted to construct another casino in Sonoma County. They agreed to push back the project for around 10 years, and in return, the Sonoma County officials would forgo the 2020 and 2021 annual $750,000 revenue payment required from the tribe.

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Details of the new collaboration emerged Monday and see the duo celebrate the rich history, contributions and culture of Black Americans. With this effort, Jamul Casino highlights the importance of diversity and inclusion. Thanks to the new collaboration, the organizations have set different events throughout February.

Earlier this month, Jamul Casino organized a luncheon that commemorated two local heroic women of color, Wendy Shurelds, the founder and CEO of Many Shades of Pink, an organization that helps with treatment and support to African American breast cancer patients, as well as Dr Suzanne Afflalo.

“With a number of events and initiatives scheduled throughout February, the JIV and Jamul Casino are joining the celebration by amplifying Black voices and highlighting the significance of the historical contributions of Black Americans as well as the ongoing struggles,“

reads a statement released by Jamul Casino and the Jamul Indian Village

What’s more, throughout February, Jamul Casino is featuring 31 important African American leaders and figures via its digital screens on site. Additionally, the casino will recognize those important figures via its digital media channels. Jamul Casino confirmed its commitment to support Many Shades of Pink with $10,000. Both the Tribe and Jamul Casino have also confirmed they will continue to provide donations and support the County of San Diego Black Chamber of Commerce.

The Duo Is Excited to Collaborate for the Black History Month

Mary Cheeks, Jamul Casino’s president and general manager, explained that the different initiatives during Black History Month deliver a unique possibility for the communities to honor the struggles and sacrifices of Black people. “We’re excited to recognize the African American community’s contributions to our culture, and be part of creating a brighter, richer, more inclusive future for the next generation,” she pointed out.

“This month, we acknowledge and appreciate the historical contributions of the Black community while also recognizing the role and impact of the systemic barriers to racial equality that still exist today.“

Erica M. Pinto, chairwoman of the Jamul Indian Village and chairwoman of the JIVDC Board

Erica M. Pinto, JIV and JIVDC’s Board chairwoman, outlined that during Black History Month, the Tribe acknowledges the historical accomplishments of the Black community. At the same time, she said that the initiatives identify the impact of the barriers to racial equality that currently exist. Finally, Pinto said that the Tribe and its Board of Directors commemorate the achievements and legacy of Black Americans.

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