Stop Predatory Gambling

Casino interests continue to use Native American tribes to force their way into communities

by spgadmin

The New York Times is reporting the Obama administration has approved the Shinnecock Indians on Long Island for federal recognition on Tuesday, culminating a court battle lasting three decades and paving the way for the tribe to build a casino in New York City or its suburbs.

The NYT article described the Shinnecock as a relatively impoverished tribe, whose members live on 800 acres in Southampton, N.Y., in the midst of some of the nation’s wealthiest and most famous celebrities.

On the one hand, it is saddening a significant group of people lived in poverty alongside some of America’s wealthiest families for so long. On the other hand, it is equally saddening that the primary avenue we allow Native American tribes to pursue in order to build wealth is through casinos – the most predatory business in the country.

Today, six out of the top ten funders of political efforts nationwide are Native American casino tribes. The Indian Gambling Regulatory Act (IGRA) has wildly exceeded the original intent of the legislation when it was passed in 1988. Funded by millionaire casino investors, tribal casinos continue to force their way into communities across the nation. There are now more than 450 tribal casinos in America.

The Shinnecock case presents a political opportunity to reform IGRA and stop America’s slide towards becoming a casino republic.