Opinion: Indian Country can no longer ignore Internet gaming

Wednesday, December 7, 2011  

"Suddenly, what happens on the Isle of Man, the Kahnawake Mohawk reserve near Quebec, in Costa Rica or Alderney has become important to Tahlequah, Tacoma, Temecula, Tulsa and Toledo. I-gaming is here and the world has shrunk. And when it comes to Internet gaming, Indian Country should be concerned – and proactive.

Now is the time for tribes to embrace the new opportunities presented by i-gaming. With appropriate laws and regulation, i-gaming can flourish in Indian Country and respect the longstanding policy of tribal governments remaining the sole beneficiaries of Indian gaming revenue. While potentially a threat to the status quo, i-gaming is an opportunity as well.

Indian gaming is the most successful economic development policy in United States history and has grown to approximately $30 billion dollars in annual revenue in 2011. By some estimates worldwide i-gaming revenue from2010 was a larger number – $35 billion.The most popular form, of course is online poker. Also, much discussion has occurred about the development of intrastate i-gaming lottery systems, forms of which are offered in about five states. Some have recently estimated that one million people a day engage in i-gaming within the U.S. Momentum is building. We cannot ignore i-gaming."

Get the Story:
D.Michael McBride III: Why Should You Care About Internet Gaming? (Indian Gaming Magazine December 2011)