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AN INDEPENDENT PUBLICATION NOT AFFILIATED WITH NIGA
Midax Uses Lockdown as an Opportunity
While others furloughed their production staff, Midax decided to double down on the opportunity to develop its product range strategically, building on its pre-existing platform of the Tribal One loyalty and fleet programs, integrated into player points databases. Midax expanded its mobile app to handle order ahead, at the c-store and on the way to the c-store, delivery and pickup at the grocery store, enabling users to pay with player points on their mobile device and enjoy built-in frequency rewards at the c-store, grocery store and QSR. The next step is mobile order at the slot machine, so Midax can turn servers into expeditors. Midax has agreed with hospitality providers such as Agilysys and Micros to integrate its c-store applications into their systems for a seamless customer experience across the tribal property. Midax realized integration into the Comdata SmartDESQ, so that the Tribal One
BOOTH #1409
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“Rock Your Shot” Team Member Vaccination Incentive Program
Las Vegas Wednesday, July 21, 2021
The Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana and the Mohegan Tribe Announce Mission Accomplished
In spring of 2016, the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe and the Tunica-Biloxi Gaming Authority asked the Mohegan Tribe and Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment (MGE) – a master developer and operator of premier global integrated entertainment resorts – to act as the manager of their Paragon Casino Resort in Marksville, Louisiana. Over the course of those five years of partnership, the Resort successfully navigated to reduce its debt by over two-thirds and recently refinanced its outstanding debt on very favorable terms. In addition, a number of employee benefits were reinstated, including the 401k match, bonus program, annual raises and implementation of minimum wage above the required state minimum. If this positive momentum continues the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe is positioned to be debt free in just seven years. Based on the tools, framework and guidance of this partnership, the Tunica-Biloxi Gaming Authority will assume full management of Paragon Casino Resort. The Mohegan Tribe is confident they will continue their upward trend and wish their friends at the TunicaBiloxi Tribe great prosperity. “The Tunica-Biloxi Tribe is grateful for the management and leadership Mohegan Sun has provided the Tribe,” said Marshall Pierite, chairman of the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Continued on Page 9
Arizona Tribes Sign Historic Tribal-State Gaming Compact with Governor Ducey
Hard Rock International and Seminole Gaming have unveiled “Rock Your Shot,” a team member COVID-19 vaccination incentive program with grand prizes that include a 2021 Jeep Cherokee and cash awards of $10,000 and $5,000. All team members who have been fully vaccinated and who show their COVID19 Vaccination Record Card to their local human resources department or Hard Rock Cafe general manager will automatically receive a $50 gift card. In addition, all team members who report their vaccination and claim a gift card will be entered into a drawing for the 2021 Jeep Cherokee and cash prizes to be held October 31, 2021. The “Rock Your Shot” vaccination incentive program is open to all full time and part time fully-vaccinated team members of company-owned or managed Hard Rock International and Seminole Gaming entities in the United States, including its hotels, restaurants, casinos and corporate offices. Headquartered in Hollywood, Florida, Hard Rock International and Seminole Gaming together employ about 21,000 team members throughout the country. Aggressive efforts to vaccinate team members have included providing shots in arms
National Indian Gaming Association Chairman Ernie Stevens, Jr., joined tribes in Arizona at the Heard Museum to witness the official signing of significant tribal-state gaming compact amendments and a 25-year extension with Arizona Governor Doug Ducey. The amendments and the associated legislation took more than five years to negotiate. It ensures gaming in Arizona remains limited and regulated while providing certainty for the future of the tribe’s and the state’s economy. Chairman Stevens said, “What a great day for tribal government gaming and the tribes in Arizona. It was truly an honor to bear witness to this significant gaming compact signing ceremony between sovereign tribal governments and the state of Arizona.” Stevens added, “First and foremost, tribal government gaming has always been about providing vital services to our tribal citizens towards ensuring future generations. Further, it affirms that tribes are great neighbors and friends who continue to do our part to contribute to the economic growth and critical jobs for American families.” The compact agreement is good until the year 2046 and allows casino expansions
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Wednesday, July 21, 2021
Using Face Recognition to Combine Virus Protection and Responsible Gaming Measures COVID brings new difficulties to knowing and protecting your customers. It’s hard enough for your security staff to recognize self-excluded, underage or banned patrons, let alone check if they are wearing masks. Face recognition can help. Generating real-time notifications, the FaceVACS-VideoScan solution can detect known persons, such as VIP customers, and alert you to persons wearing or not wearing masks. As a bonus, the software analyzes faces to produce statistics about people count, age, gender and movement. If you need to trace the spread of contagions, the software can track a person through the premises, and show who they interacted with. Entry and exit cameras can record all visitor appearances,
which can be used to compute the time patrons spent on premise. Aside from contact tracing, you can use this feature to warn people who have overstayed their time in the gaming areas. Casinos worldwide pay high fines every year for allowing underage people to gamble. Face recognition technology can perform an initial age check, and notify staff in real time when an underage person is detected. But the software alone won’t produce optimal results. Venues are looking for a cohesive system that combines hardware, software and services, and that integrates seamlessly into their existing systems and operations. Types of cameras, their positioning and tuning; high-performance server
Where Does Great Design Come From? By Ed Abadie, Head Designer, Gary Platt
Where does great design come from, and what does it mean? Gary Platt Manufacturing’s dedicated design team – true artisan craftspeople – answer these two questions frequently. We have been creating unsurpassed seating for more than 20 years for a variety of industries including casino, hospitality and office. The brands we work with are one of our main inspirations. We always consider casino branding to be unique, and know it is the result of investments in time, energy, and money spent to create an environment that each casino’s customers can enjoy and relate to. Our experts in handcrafted design create unique products that are inspired to reflect each casino’s individual brand promise, not something that is cookie-cutter. Our team works closely with each property and their design team to create the perfect chair design that is unique to the customer. What does “design” mean to Gary Platt? It means comfort, quality, and durability. We are never satisfied until
each of these three elements perform in perfect harmony. There is a science to designing comfort. Every chair we design includes our exclusive cold-cured foam. The meticulous manufacturing process ensures consistency in the shape, density and quality of each chair. In addition, it is highly elastic and retains its firmness even after years of use. We take an ergonomic approach from the curve of the seat to the lines and curvature of the back, and the density and feel of the upholstery, providing the player with the most comfortable experience possible. We also keep slot floor staff in mind while designing our chairs. We want to ensure the mobility of our chairs is as easy as possible with correct weight proportions, balance, base alignment and handle placement. Of course, if our work doesn’t last, the design doesn’t matter, so our teams handcraft each chair with an eye to the highest level of quality. The most minute details are important – how the upholstery lays, the base attaches, unblemished finishing, perfect stitching, decorative
Vector Solutions Launches New Website Vector Solutions, a leading provider of software solutions for training, operational readiness, workforce management, and risk mitigation, has announced the launch of its dynamic new website and brand unity completion, officially transitioning all individual brand names to Vector Solutions. This change, which includes a new Vector Solutions logo, is guided by Vector’s goal to empower organizations to improve performance, reduce risk, and ensure compliance. Vector’s brand evolution, first announced in September 2020, includes the transition of 20 brands, all of which serve mission-critical organizations in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC), industrial manufacturing, public safety, and education industries. In addition to promoting greater brand awareness, unity, and growth, this
change provides organizations and individuals access to Vector’s entire suite of specialized management solutions that meet the evolving safety and operational needs of their diverse and specialized customer base. “Vector Solutions’ commitment to our customers is centered around evolving our capabilities and connecting our products in a seamless way that gives them real-time information and insights when, where and how they need it - all to help them achieve better outcomes and safeguard lives,” said Vector Solutions CEO Marc Scheipe. “The unification of our brands and launch of our new website represent a significant milestone, not only for Vector, but also for our 21 million users around the world as Vector unleashes all of our capabilities to help them make safer, smarter, better deci-
Gaming News choice; setting up an optimal network infrastructure; configuration of the solution; funding and deploying the system – all of these components play an important part. Making them work together, and supporting their continuous operation and maintenance, need a specialist face recognition company with a proven track record in the gaming and entertainment industry. Cognitec offers a variety of flexible cost models, which includes onsite/cloud integration services, along with camera selection and positioning, training and deployment. Visit Cognitec at booth #1807.
nails and more. Every element is carefully placed to strike the perfect balance between form, function and durability. Our product is extremely durable in the casino environment, allowing us to provide a 10-year manufacturer warranty on the overall structure of each chair. In a high-usage, 24/7 casino environment, you can be confident that your Gary Platt chairs will be durable and comfortable many years into the future. Not every design team can say their work is patented. Our designers have earned many patents, including U.S. Patent No. D829458 for our Monaco chair design and U.S. Patent No. D847549 for our Epic Frame, which is known globally for its versatility and durability. These patents are a real compliment to our team, and they speak loudly to our one-of-a-kind seating solutions, and symbolize our dedication to our customers. Most recently, we received U.S. Patent No. D861405 for our Tesla chair design. This was an exciting project to sions.” A cornerstone of Vector’s brand evolution is the introduction of four specialized solution areas to help customers perform at the highest level: Learning and Training, Operational Readiness, Workforce Management, and Risk Management. Integrated products available in these solutions are embedded into daily workflow and include the Vector Learning and Training Management System, Vector EHS Management, Vector Scheduling, and Vector LiveSafe. The launch of a brand new Vector Solutions website improves overall user experience by allowing Vector customers from all industries to search courses and access solutions, products, and resources from a single center rather than individual brand websites. Also included on the website is a comprehensive Resources Page complete with access to Vector blogs, webinars, whitepapers and guides,
AN INDEPENDENT PUBLICATION NOT AFFILIATED WITH NIGA Kimberly Oser Publisher Anthony Socci Vice President of Sales Yasmine Brown Production Manager/Art Director AJ Flick Senior Editor Jeanie Catron Associate Editor Susan Stein Customer Service Manager Marcos Morhaim Senior Account Manager Tara Neal Director of Operations Hannah Stefanovich Show Logistics & Distribution Enrico Cecchi European Sales Gaming News is published by Oser Communications Group ©2021 All rights reserved. Executive and editorial offices at: 1877 N. Kolb Road, Tucson, AZ 85715 520.721.1300/Fax: 520.721.6300 European offices located at Lungarno Benvenuto Cellini, 11, 50125 Florence, Italy www.osercommunicationsgroup.com
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work on and the finished product is a standout. Tesla’s unique wing-style back gently hugs players, while parallel lines of stitching on the back accent the wingback design, and the stitching pattern is mirrored on the seat. We also created the Tesla model to have an abundance of customizable features, including base, legs, finishing, upholstery and a fully customizable back. Let’s create ideas together, and let’s put our team’s unsurpassed designs to work for you on your floor. Visit Gary Platt at booth #1417. For more information, call 800.969.0999 or go to www.garyplatt.com.
success stories, subject matter experts, and more. Detailed information about Vector’s career opportunities, industry honors and recognitions, and philanthropic initiatives, including the Vector Cares Program, can also be found on the new site. Included among the 20 brands that have transitioned to the Vector Solutions name and brand are the company’s premier brand names: RedVector, Convergence Training, TargetSolutions, SafeSchools, IndustrySafe, LiveSafe, CrewSense, SafeColleges, Exceptional Child, TeachPoint, Casino Essentials, and DiversityEdu. Vector does not anticipate any service changes or disruption to customers and remains focused on providing worldclass, high-touch service during this brand activation. For more information, go to www .vectorsolutions.com.
Wednesday, July 21, 2021
Gaming News
Customized, Competitive Workers Compensation for Casinos By Tina Duncan, Business Development Manager, AMERIND
Tribal gaming entities have many considerations when protecting property, employees and covering liability exposures, especially since they are not a one-size-fits-all risk model. Casinos need to work with a trusted broker on key risks and design an insurance program around those risks. Property, liability and workers compensation policies should be uniquely crafted to protect tribal assets, while considering cultural preferences. A Tribal Workers Compensation (TWC) program should be selected without sacrificing the ability to determine its level of coverage. Tribal gaming entities can avoid the fraud and abuse that’s prevalent in state systems through a sovereign TWC program. There are several workers compensation carriers serving tribal gaming entities, so
your broker should provide multiple options to ensure you aren’t paying too much. It’s a best practice to get a new quote annually.
AMERIND’s Tribal Workers Compensation Program AMERIND’s Tribal Workers Compensation product is an alternative to state programs and empowers tribal entities to take full control of their workers compensation program. The AMERIND Workers Compensation program maintains the tribe’s sovereignty and is tailored to offer maximum effectiveness while reducing overall claim expenses. The product is customized, competitively priced and reliable. Insuring through AMERIND eliminates the need to comply with state law. Similar to state workers compensation programs, benefits include medical expenses, lost wages, death benefits and
Rymax Appoints Brett Traiger as National Sales Manager for Casino Sales Division Rymax, a leading loyalty marketing and rewards provider, welcomes Brett Traiger as National Sales Manager for the Casino Sales Division. With nearly eight years of industry expertise, Brett is
well-versed in player loyalty programming and has been successful in establishing key relationships with many gaming customers across the country. Of his newest team member, Paul
disability benefits. AMERIND provides online access to realtime claim information, an experienced claims team with the expertise, deductible and selfinsured retention (SIR) options.
Making Good Decisions for Indian Country Dan Kain, business executive with the Puyallup Tribe, said he knew from his first meeting he had shared values with AMERIND. “The tribe retained AMERIND over a decade ago based on AMERIND’s ability to provide the best coverage and rates, and, more importantly, its ability to protect the tribe and its assets,” Kain said. “From a cost perspective, AMERIND is very competitive with larger insurance companies. A policy costs less than the competitors, making it an easy choice,” he continued. “AMERIND serves a niche market – tribal governments and businesses. Tribes Protecting Tribes – it’s a motto that describes them well because they are so engaged in Indian Country. They always approach our discussions with the attiGordon, Senior Vice President of Sales for Rymax said, “The Casino Sales Division is a core piece of our business and one that we’re committed to growing. Brett’s relationships with the gaming industry will be an asset to us as we seek to expand our client base, tap into new areas of opportunity and evolve our existing programs with the changing needs of our customers.” Prior to joining Rymax, Brett served as Director of Business Development for IN Marketing, a full-service incentive and loyalty marketing organization, where he was focused on cultivating new business partnerships and further expanding existing client relationships. His aptitude for converting key prospects
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tude that we’re all in this together. They want to vet your needs and then make good decisions.”
AMERIND Is Your 100% Owned and Trusted Insurance Partner An AM Best A- (Excellent) rated company, AMERIND offers a comprehensive line of affordable insurance products designed to fit the needs of Indian Country. Founded in 1986 as an act of unity among more than 400 tribes, AMERIND is the only 100 percent tribally owned insurance provider. The New Mexico-based AMERIND has saved tribes millions of dollars – all while strengthening Native American communities and economies and elevating tribal sovereignty. AMERIND also provides access to employee benefit solutions and strategic planning for broadband deployment by tribal governments and business enterprises throughout Indian Country. Visit AMERIND at booth #1402. For more information, go to www.amerind .com or call 505.404.5000.
into key clients, combined with his product knowledge and his passion for developing innovative programs will inevitably drive his success at Rymax. “I am thrilled to be joining the Rymax Team, the pinnacle of player loyalty,” said Brett. “I’m really looking forward to leveraging my skills and background, with the support, expertise and breadth of trending merchandise Rymax offers. Together we will create a formidable pairing of forward-thinking, resultsdriven loyalty marketers who can take this business to new heights.” For more information, go to www.rymax inc.com or call 800.379.8073.
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Wednesday, July 21, 2021
Gaming News
most profitable casino in the United States, located in Hillsborough County. This changes today. With this new compact, the state will now see a large stream of recurring revenue to the tune of billions of dollars over the next few years. The deal will also create over 2,000 jobs. I want to thank the Seminole Tribe of Florida Chairman Marcellus Osceola Jr., Senate President Wilton Simpson, House Speaker Chris Sprowls, and the entire Florida Legislature for getting this done for our great state,” said Governor Ron DeSantis.
“Today, the storied relationship between Florida and the Seminole Tribe was strengthened thanks to a historic compact negotiated between Governor DeSantis and the Tribe. The additional revenues of this compact will prove essential as we continue investing in Florida’s future, including in our education, transportation, infrastructure, and environment. I applaud our Governor for renewing this critical partnership for the benefit of our state,” said Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuñez. “This legislation has been a long time coming. I appreciate the hard work of everyone involved, particularly the leadership of Governor DeSantis in bringing the Compact across the finish
line. By comprehensively addressing issues raised for almost a decade, this historic Compact restores Florida’s relationship with the Seminole Tribe, offers new opportunities for Florida’s legacy pari-mutuel industry, and provides substantial new revenues for our state,” said Senate President Wilton Simpson. “I want to congratulate Governor DeSantis for negotiating this historic compact with Chairman Osceola and the Seminole Tribe of Florida that will bring in billions to our state,” said Speaker of the House Chris Sprowls. In April, Governor Ron DeSantis announced a historic gaming compact between the State of Florida and the Seminole Tribe of Florida.
installs use: integration into the casino player points for tiered discounting, pay by points at the c-store and in the grocery store, order ahead mobile app, selfcheckouts, in-house Fleet card both in the retail c-store and the truck stop and tribal member and employee discounts right at the pump. The work is paying off. Cougar
Den’s John Schab said, “Midax’s Tribal One loyalty platform has allowed us to engage with our customers and better understand them. We use their Fleet program to increase our profits and reduce labor costs.” Ilani’s Taylor Morelli said, “We use Midax and the program is great and works great with our pumps and regis-
ters. Even better, their techs are super quick to help when we wanted to customize the setup.” Pechanga’s Alvin Gines said, “We have been using Midax for almost a decade for all in-house fuel payments. It just works!”
James Gessner.
largest employer in Central Louisiana. Through its compact, negotiated by the late Tribal Chairman Earl J. Barbry Sr. and the State of Louisiana, the Tribe has assisted local governments in the area with its quarterly distribution of funds, totaling more than $40 million over two decades. For more information about the TunicaBiloxi Tribe of Louisiana, go to www .tunicabiloxi.org.
of premier global integrated entertainment resorts, including Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut, Inspire in Incheon, South Korea and Niagara Casinos in Niagara, Canada. MGE is owner, developer, and/or manager of integrated entertainment resorts throughout the United States, including Connecticut, New Jersey, Washington, Pennsylvania, as well as Northern Asia and Niagara Falls, Canada, and Las Vegas, Nevada. MGE is owner and operator of Connecticut Sun, a professional basketball team in the WNBA. For more information, go to www.mohegangaming.com.
also designated as a U.S. Best Managed Company by Deloitte Private and The Wall Street Journal. In 2020, Hard Rock was honored as one of Forbes Magazine’s Best Employers for Diversity and a Top Employer for Women. Hard Rock Hotels & Casinos also received first place ranking in the 2020 Casino Gaming Executive Satisfaction Survey conducted by Bristol Associates Inc. and Spectrum Gaming Group. In addition, Hard Rock Hotels was named one of the top performing hotel brands in J.D. Power’s North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Study for the second consecutive year. Hard Rock destinations are located in international gateway cities, including its two most successful flagship properties in Florida and home to the world’s first
Guitar Hotel® in South Florida, Global Gaming’s 2020 Property of the Year. The brand is owned by HRI parent entity The Seminole Tribe of Florida. For more information on Hard Rock International, go to www.hardrock.com.
Florida Legislature Approves Seminole Compact by Historic Margins Governor Ron DeSantis applauded the Florida Legislature’s ratification of the new gaming compact with the Seminole Tribe of Florida. The Governor’s agreement will generate a minimum of $2.5 billion in new revenue for the state over the next five years and an estimated $6 billion through 2030. The Tribe is not currently making any revenue payments to the state. “The breakdown of the 2010 compact has denied the state of Florida any revenue derived from the Seminole Tribe’s ongoing gaming operations — including what is the Midax (Cont’d. from p. 1)
Fleet program can work at the truck stop. Drivers can earn points through this integration that they can spend inside the store, using Tribal One’s Food services of order ahead and self-checkout. Most of the systems Midax now Tunica-Biloxi (Cont’d. from p. 1)
Louisiana. “This has been a true Nation-toNation collaboration and we will continue to work with Mohegan Sun for the overall benefit of Indian Country to ensure the growth, empowerment, and benefit of our sovereignty for generations to come.” “This has been a great business partnership built on understanding and the mutual respect of our tribal journeys. We look forward to continuing our work together on national issues and making Indian Country stronger and safer for all indigenous people,” said Mohegan Chairman Rock Your Shot (Cont’d. from p. 1)
at workplaces and establishing flexible rules to encourage off-site vaccinations. “We are committed to a safe working environment for all of our team members,” said Jim Allen, Chairman of Hard Rock International and CEO of Seminole Gaming. “With more team members vaccinated, there is less chance for the virus to spread to other team members and guests.” The vaccination incentive program is entirely voluntary and open to all fullyvaccinated team members in the past or in the future, up to the October 31, 2021 drawing. All vaccination information provided by team members will remain confidential, as required by federal government guidelines. Arizona Tribes (Cont’d. from p. 1)
for tribes to operate thousands of more slot machines, open at least four new casinos, and take bets on new table games. It also includes amendments for a sport-betting law that allows tribes and professional sports organizations to open twenty sportsbooks in Arizona. Gila River Indian Community Governor Stephen Roe Lewis addressed the ceremony’s audience, saying, “The Gila River Indian Community is proud to partner with other tribes and the state to come to a gaming agreement that benefits
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About the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana The Tunica-Biloxi people first appeared in the Mississippi Valley. In the late 1700s, they settled near Marksville, where they were skilled traders and entrepreneurs. Today, the Tribe has more than 1,500 members throughout the United States, primarily in Louisiana, Texas and Illinois. The Tunica-Biloxi Tribe received federal recognition in 1981 for its reservation within the boundaries of Louisiana. The tribe owns and operates the Paragon Casino Resort, the
About Hard Rock® Hard Rock International (HRI) is one of the most globally recognized companies with venues in 68 countries spanning 239 locations that include owned/licensed or managed Hotels, Casinos, Rock Shops®, Live Performance Venues and Cafes. HRI also launched a joint venture named Hard Rock Digital in 2020, an online sportsbook, retail sportsbook and internet gaming platform. Beginning with an Eric Clapton guitar, Hard Rock owns the world’s largest and most valuable collection of authentic music memorabilia at more than 86,000 pieces, which are displayed at its locations around the globe. In 2021, Hard Rock International was awarded the Top Employer in the Travel & Leisure, Gaming, and Entertainment Industry by Forbes and
all communities. Gaming enhances economic development and job growth within our tribe, and it provides funding sources for education, housing, and much more for tribes throughout Arizona.” Governor Lewis added, “We argued before we agreed, and we fought before we found middle ground, but here we are today, celebrating the most unique unicorn in political life – a genuine win for us all.” Arizona Governor Doug Ducey said, “I can’t overstate the impact the tribal-state gaming compact amendment and its associated legislation will
About Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment (MGE) is a master developer and operator
have on our state. Gaming employs thousands of Arizonans, and it generates millions in tax revenue that benefits areas like K-12 education, conservation, and treatment centers. Today’s signing is a culmination of years of partnership and engagement among many diverse stakeholders — and we did it by bringing everyone to the table, pushing individual agendas aside, and putting Arizona first.” Arizona’s first tribal-state gaming compacts were entered in 1992. Arizona voters approved the continuation of tribal gaming ten years later with the passage
Visit Midax at booth #1409.
About Seminole Gaming Seminole Gaming manages seven Florida gaming locations for the Seminole Tribe of Florida, including Seminole Hard Rock Hotels & Casinos in Tampa and Hollywood, Florida. Seminole Gaming has long been recognized for its industry innovations and success. The Seminole Tribe was the first Indian Tribe in North America to open a high-stakes bingo hall and casino, which debuted in 1979 and became the forerunner of the Indian Gaming movement.
of Proposition 202. Since then, all 22 federally recognized tribal nations in Arizona have entered into compacts with the state, establishing a relationship that has been mutually beneficial to the tribes and the state. As of December 2020, there has been nearly $1.5 billion in total tribal contributions to the state, counties, cities, and towns in Arizona since the original compacts were signed. Further, Arizona tribal government gaming employs 38,000 Arizonans in ancillary industries such as food service, hospitality, and tourism.