New York's Native American Casinos: A Cultural and Gaming Journey

Once upon a time, tribal casinos and tribal gaming weren't as prevalent as it is now a days, especially for New Yorkers. However, Tribal gaming came to New York State after the passage of the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, also known as IGRA. The first gaming compact between New York and a Native American tribe occurred in 1993. After that, New York opened several Class 2 and Class 3 Casinos. For millennials, it's shocking that this didn't occur earlier, while older generations of New Yorkers likely remember what it used to be like. We all know Native Americans have economically suffered, along with getting a bad deal in the first place by being pushed onto reservations with bad economies, and oftentimes many economic issues caused by their circumstances.

In a way, casinos have been a bright spot for their communities. Indian Tribes are considered sovereign Nations under federal law, so states do not have to enforce their civil codes on reservations within the borders of a state. This made them the perfect candidate for the gambling industry, an industry that continues to face a lot of discrimination and restriction in the US.

Back in November of 2005, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the right of the Government to negotiate gaming compacts with Native American tribes. This ruling effectively removed any pending questions regarding the legitimacy of Native American Casinos in New York State. By June of 2013, Government Cuomo announced an agreement had been made between the State of New York and the Seneca Nation of Indians after over six years of debates between the tribe and local citizens. Ultimately, The Seneca won the right to use their land how they wanted to, and rightfully so. Upon agreement, the Seneca Nation of Indians must pay $349 million in gaming revenue to both the state and local communities, and this money has been withheld in the past based on the state's failure to honor the tribe's exclusivity zone. Casinos mean a lot more than just gambling to the native peoples' economy and rights. The new agreement recognizes the tribe's zone as independent and able to operate casinos as long as payments are made to the state, along with agreeing to set forth pro-rated repayments of previous money owed.

Native reservations developed casinos at a rapid rate, as half of the Indians on or near a reservation belonged to a tribe that opened a Las Vegas style casino. Casinos have changed the economic climate of these lands for the better. More young adults are moving back to the reservations as a result, which has led to a population increase. Their adult employment rates have also increased, along with a decline in working poverty. In countries with or near a casino, the population ratio has increased and mortality has declined. Non-native people drive for over an hour to enjoy a nearby casino, and their money goes into the reservation's economy. It's no wonder tribes continue to host casinos on their land.