The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA), passed by Congress in 1988, was designed to give Native Americans a chance to participate in gaming businesses that were already legal within their states.
It started with bingo. Then gaming machines were developed that determined winners by virtual bingo cards. Later, as casinos spread across the country, tribes were permitted to offer full-scale casino gaming. (In Connecticut, the tribes got this right because the state had legalized “Las Vegas nights” for charity, and a court ruled that IGRA still applied.)
In the early days, tribes housed their casinos in inexpensive buildings—trailers, tent-like “Sprung” structures, or even converted warehouses. A few years later they added hotels, restaurants and a limited number of non-gaming amenities.
Today, the second and third wave of tribal gaming is under way. Once-small casinos have become integrated resorts, comparable to world-class facilities in Las Vegas. When it comes to reinvestment, competition—both with commercial properties and other tribal operations—has sometimes forced their hands. But the desire to offer more than just gambling is often a goal of these expansions.
In November alone, five tribes celebrated expansions or relocations of their current facilities.
Major Milestone
The Paskenta Band of the Nomlaki Indians celebrated the 25th anniversary of the tribe’s official restoration with a multimillion-dollar expansion and remodel of its Rolling Hills Casino in Corning, California.
Tribal Chairman Andrew “Dru” Alejandre said the expansion idea goes back to the change in tribal leadership in 2014, and management staff was hired with growth in mind.
“We were looking for a general manager with knowledge of expanding casinos,” Alejandre told the Red Bluff Daily News. “It will provide more opportunities for our community and for us in the tribe to give back to the community.”
General Manager Steve Neely said the expansion will increase the gaming area by 40 percent, bring in two new restaurants, redesign and expand conference facilities, and give the entire casino a facelift. Rock & Brews and Fatburger restaurants will be opened in the remodeled facility; Neely said the addition allows the casino to offer something not found in this part of the state. Rock & Brews is expected to open in the summer of 2020 and Fatburger in January 2021.
Construction will take place in phases to allow the casino, which opened in 2002, to continue operating with minimal disruption. Completion of all phases is expected to take 14 months, with many of the changes in place during the summer of 2020.
“The 25th anniversary of restoration and recognition by the federal government marks a watershed date for our tribe as we look to the future,” Alejandre said. “The recent opening of our new outdoor amphitheater and our new partnerships with major food and hospitality brands solidified the tribe’s commitment to being a valued economic community partner for the North State.”
Through the Paskenta Nomlaki Foundation, the tribe has turned revenues from the casino into grants of more than $6.7 million in Tehama County. Funding has gone to local medical facilities, the building of a Tribal Community and Senior Citizens Center, donations of fire and law enforcement resources and the creation of recreational programs in Corning.
The gaming area will expand to the east and south on the property to enclose existing entryways and landscaping, Neely said. The main entryway and fountain will be removed and parking lots realigned to make parking and entry simpler.
A brewery and distillery will produce beer and spirits, crafted on-site and sold throughout the property (legislation passed in 2018 repealed a 184-year ban on production of spirits on tribal property). The tribe expects to announce the name of the establishment soon.
The entire facility will be modernized and rooms upgraded at both The Lodge at Rolling Hills and The Inn at Rolling Hills. A new coffee shop will be added along with a pizza restaurant and retail space. A ballroom and conference center will be the final phase of the project, the most versatile and largest of its kind in the area.
The project is expected to create an estimated 400 jobs during construction and up to 200 permanent new jobs post-construction.With occupancy rates at the casino’s hotels around 99 percent throughout the year, Neely said the tribe could look at expanding existing lodging or adding a new hotel to the site.
Alejandre said tribal members are supportive of the expansion. “People are enjoying the opportunity for change and the direction the tribe is headed with their businesses.”
Moving On Up
The U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) has approved a plan by the Tule River Tribe of California to relocate its Eagle Mountain Casino from the current locale in Porterville, Tulare County, to a 40-acre parcel in the same community, near the Porterville Airport Industrial Park.
The site is less than 20 miles from the existing facility and will be considered an off-reservation acquisition, reported Indianz.com.
Moving the casino “would be in the best interest of the tribe and not detrimental to the surrounding community,” said BIA Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Tara Sweeney, announcing her decision to the National Congress of American Indians.
California Governor Gavin Newsom must also OK the plan, she pointed out. “A decision to acquire the approximately 40-acre parcel into federal trust will be made at a later date, when Governor Newsom concurs with the secretarial determination.”
“After years of hard work,” Chairman Neil Peyron told the Porterville Recorder, “the federal government moved the tribe’s casino relocation one step closer to making this dream a reality.”
Cherokee, community and casino representatives cut the ribbon on the new Cherokee Casino Tahlequah in Oklahoma
Tribal Culture
Cherokee, community and casino representatives cut the ribbon on the new Cherokee Casino Tahlequah in Oklahoma
Cherokee Nation Businesses recently opened its newest casino resort, Cherokee Casino Tahlequah in Oklahoma.
The venue showcases Cherokee history and culture, with artwork and design elements focusing on the legendary Cherokee 18th century warrior-turned-peacemaker Nancy Ward, also known as Nanyehi, and her cousin and fellow Cherokee leader Dragging Canoe, or Tsiyu. The facility also honors the Cherokee statesman and linguist Sequoyah.
The casino features mannequins of Nanyehi and Tsiyu in period clothing and artwork by 53 Cherokee artists. Historical Cherokee artifacts, on loan from the Cherokee Heritage Center, are displayed at the Chota Center entrance.
Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. said, “The art, history and heritage of the Cherokee Nation is beautifully exhibited at our newest entertainment facility. Patrons can wander the entire facility and experience different aspects of Cherokee culture. We’ve amassed and displayed the works and crafts of master Cherokee artisans, and that collection rivals most art museums in the country.”
Cherokee Nation Businesses Director of Cultural Art and Design Gina Olaya noted, “Through the involvement of such a vast amount of artists, Cherokee Casino Tahlequah provides a great view of the depth of talent we have within the Cherokee Nation. The entire location exemplifies our tribe’s unique and beautiful culture and doffers visitors the opportunity to learn and enjoy our history, language and heritage.”
Venue names like the White Wolf Steakhouse and Ancient Oak Tavern continue the historic theme. The Chota Conference Center is named after the historic Overhill town, the Cherokee Nation capital from the late 1740s to 1788, believed to be Ward’s birthplace.
Cherokee Nation Businesses’ cultural art department staff and art committees select each piece of art displayed at every CNB property. They play a critical role in selecting culturally appropriate designs, materials, textures, colors, names and themes to accurately represent Cherokee culture, language and customs.
Groundbreaking
Rendering of the Agua Caliente casino in Cathedral City, California
The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians of California broke ground in November on its new downtown Cathedral City casino.
In October, the tribe announced that the casino project had been green-lit, following federal approval allowing the land’s status to be changed from fee to tribal trust for gaming purposes.
“We are excited to begin construction on this large-scale investment in Cathedral City,” Tribal Chairman Jeff L. Grubbe said. “This project will create jobs, revitalize an undeveloped downtown property and support Cathedral City’s economic development efforts.”
The 13.6-acre project will provide an entertainment attraction in the heart of downtown Cathedral City.
Angel Xpansion
In November, the Stillaguamish Tribe of Washington State celebrated the grand opening of its $60 million expansion of its Angel of the Winds Casino, a project dubbed “Xpansion” by the casino.
The Xpansion debuted after almost two years of work. The project features new restaurants, an events center, two bars, a bowling alley, a remodeled gaming floor and a 575-space parking garage to the Angel of the Winds Casino.
“Just under two years after breaking ground, our 2019 Xpansion is now complete,” said a post on the casino’s social media. “Thank you to everyone who helped make this Xceptional milestone possible!”
The Rivers Run Event Center functions as a concert venue and conference space at the casino. Rocker Bret Michaels of solo and Poison fame put on the first show there, which was a sellout, according to a social media post.
The expansion added a total of 300,000 square feet to the property.
