The survey also highlighted the devastating effects of casino closures on Indigenous tribal communities.<\/p>\n
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Before the pandemic, there was a shortage of safe drinking water, healthy food, power, stores, and housing on many remote tribal reservations,<\/strong> according to a statement from the survey group, the Seattle Entertainment Group noted. But since the outbreak, these issues are \u201camplified and cause a ripple effect. That very ripple could lead to a mass dissolution of the tribal governments who are in charge of governing their tribal-state(s).\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\nAnd these effects don’t surprise some experts, like\u00a0Attorney Rory Dilweg, a partner in Colorado\u2019s Ocotillo Law and Policy Partners.<\/p>\n
“Every tribal leader and casino executive I have talked to is very concerned about how to keep patrons, employees, and the community safe while still being able to pay employees and earn money to provide necessary services to tribal members,\u201d Dilweg told Casino.org.<\/em><\/p>\nDilweg further points out that the $8 billion for tribal relief is not enough to spur recovery. “Not only were tribes\u2019 only businesses shuttered,” he said. “But the tribes also had to provide greater services to their members and communities.”<\/p>\n
In addition, the Rev. Richard McGowan, a finance professor at Boston College who closely monitors gambling trends, told Casino.org<\/em> that the finding that 6 percent of Native American-owned casinos are closed, \u201cis not surprising, given that casinos often are the biggest source of revenue on many reservations.\u201d<\/p>\nNew Normal<\/h2>\n
While the COVID-19 pandemic rages on, the gaming industry continues to navigate new standards.<\/p>\n
\u201cI do not believe it will go back to the way it was any time soon,\u201d Dilweg said. \u201cIf I feel that way after five-plus months of COVID-19, I think it will be a long time before things remotely get back to normal.\u201d<\/p>\n
In addition, Anthony Cabot, Distinguished Fellow in Gaming Law at UNLV\u2019s Boyd School of Law, told Casino.org<\/em> that \u201cAs the tribal casinos are spread out from coast to coast, each faces unique challenges as it relates to the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\nMany are within the pandemic hot spots, so the number that remain closed may be even higher than 6 percent,\u201d<\/strong> Cabot said. \u201cMoreover, the report is undoubtedly accurate that $8 billion will be far lower than the actual financial impact caused by the pandemic. This has a disproportionate impact on communities that rely on casino revenues for basic services.”<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\nCabot hopes that additional coronavirus funds will be included in the next Congressional relief package. However, some experts believe casinos may not be at the forefront of financial aid.<\/p>\n
\u201cI doubt that public policy officials are concerned with the survival of a casino as compared to other small businesses… It is a tough sell to say that casinos are essential,”<\/strong> McGowan said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Tribal chairs and top tribal executives overwhelmingly believe they have sufficient procedures in place to reopen safely. But the majority also says tribes need more federal coronavirus relief funds to offset devastating community effects, according to a recent survey. A recent survey from the Seattle Entertainment Group revealed that 92 percent of top tribal casino […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":44,"featured_media":144056,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[18456],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
Tribal Casino Leaders Want More COVID-19 Funds, Confident on Safety<\/title>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n