It ’ s a mandate from the tribe to get back home .”
— John Berrey , chairman of the Quapaw Nation , is leading his tribe back to ancestral land in Arkansas
vestment banking firm servicing tribal and commercial gambling and leisure industry clients . “ It ’ s more difficult to get land into trust , the regional markets may already be saturated and the spread of commercial gaming is making things less advantageous . There are fewer opportunities .”
The Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma purchased commercial racetracks in Oklahoma and Texas .
Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment , an enterprise of the Mohegan Tribe of Connecticut , owns and / or operates Resorts International in Atlantic City , Mohegan Sun Pocono Race Track and Casino in Pennsylvania and tribal hotel casinos in Washington state and Louisiana . It also is partners in the development of Project Inspire , a gambling resort in South Korea .
Tribes are also outsourcing management expertise and investing in partnerships with other tribes seeking the remaining opportunities in Indian Country . The Seminole Tribe of Florida , owners of the multibillion-dollar Hard Rock International , operates the former Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City and is in partnership with the Menominee Tribe of Wisconsin , Enterprise Rancheria of California and others .
The Chickasaw Nation is financing the 42,000-square-foot Golden Mesa Casino being built by the Loyal Shawnee in the Oklahoma Panhandle near Guymon .
Expanding their gambling interests beyond Indian lands is also part of efforts by tribes to diversify their economies .
“ I think there ’ s going to be more tribes buying gaming assets ,” Jackson says . “ I also think there ’ s going to be more tribes buying real estate and businesses related to what they ’ ve been successful doing . There is a need in most cases to look beyond the boundaries of the reservation and do things that will diversify their economy .
“ Tribes may go far afield from what they ’ ve been doing , from gravel operations to construction management to other kinds of businesses that are not related to hospitality or entertainment ,” she says . “ We ’ re working with several tribes , actively . And the common thread is the realization that they have grown as far as they can with gaming on the reservation .
“ I will say an absolute trend is the diversification away from home-based gaming .”
Florida ’ s Seminole Tribe , owner of the Hard Rock franchise , operates several commercial properties with that brand , including the latest in Atlantic City ( below )
Connecticut ’ s Mohegan tribe was the first to enter commercial gaming with the opening of Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs ( above ). The tribe also operates several tribal and commercial casinos for clients , and is a partner in the multibillion-dollar Project Inspire ( l .) adjacent to Incheon Airport in South Korea .
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