“ One of their best decisions was picking up the Hard Rock brand to be able to build name and brand identity around the globe . It has helped them translate into multiple properties around the world for both gaming and non-gaming .”
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood , Florida
“ One of their best decisions was picking up the Hard Rock brand to be able to build name and brand identity around the globe . It has helped them translate into multiple properties around the world for both gaming and non-gaming .”
— Brendan D . Bussmann , Managing Partner , B Global
Except for a handful of small casinos in south Florida , which were grandfathered in , the Seminole Tribe has a legal lock on others seeking entry . Through hard-fought litigation victories in the 1980s and 1990s , the tribe established an early beachhead in the modern casino world by building on its success with bingo , says Michael J . Anderson of Anderson Indian Law .
Those battles in Florida have served as a model of success for tribes nationwide , he says .
The Seminoles have proven to be one of the top tribal operators as their empire spread well beyond the boundaries of Florida , says Brendan D . Bussmann , managing partner of advisory firm B Global .
“ One of their best decisions was picking up the Hard Rock brand to be able to build name and brand identity around the globe ,” he contends . “ It has helped them translate into multiple properties around the world for both gaming and non-gaming .”
Now , you have a host of tribes around the country that have followed similar paths and have the ability to go well beyond their existing footprint . “ Tribes like the Poarch Band , Chickasaw , Cherokee , San Manual , Mohegan , and Mashancucket Pequot are just a few that are falling in similar fashion to diversify their portfolios beyond their tribal lands ,” Bussmann says .
More Money , More Problems
However , such success doesn ’ t mean issues won ’ t rise to the forefront . Problems to deal with — cyberthreats , for example . Some of the biggest commercial gaming companies have not proven immune to such attacks . Neither will tribal ones unless they can keep pace with modernization and innovation to ward off such threats , Fontenot says .
“ As bad actors become more sophisticated in identifying and taking advantage of system and process vulnerabilities , gaming operators need to remain prepared and use strong internal control protocols to mitigate risks and keep tribal assets protected ,” she asserts .
Competitive growth for customers could also be a factor in coming years . Tribal gaming halls compete with commercial versions unless exclusivity rules say otherwise . California only permits tribes to build Las Vegas-style casinos , says James Siva , chairman of the California Nations Indian Gaming Association ( CNIGA ). But other states such as New York have both elements .
Even a well-heeled organization like the Seminoles faces competitive issues despite exclusivity .
The grinding litigation against the Seminoles by a pair of small parimutuel companies — West Flagler Associates and Bonita-Fort Myers Corp .— trying to stop the tribe from monopolizing sports betting has proven to be thornier than expected . The Seminoles believe they will prevail , but the high courts might have a say .
“ More recently , the tribe ’ s partnership with local governments and the Florida state government have yielded immense opportunities for mutual benefit . The Seminole Tribe has a solid history of working across the aisle with both political parties and their governors in Florida ,” Anderson says .
The Seminoles are also at a development crossroads as they continue to expand upon their brand , Bussmann says . “ As they have had successful property launches in other U . S . states , they currently have two major projects that they will need to deliver on with the transformation of the Mirage in Las Vegas and the building out of an integrated resort in Athens , Greece at the Hellinikon .”
Both are big projects that require strong execution on top of the other projects they have in the pipeline or bidding on in New York City . The Big Apple has three downstate casinos the state expects to divvy out when they finalize the locations and solicit bids . At least one could end up in Manhattan , Bussmann says .
“ That continues to be a development focus in addition to their hotel offering in Times Square . A lot of the more major opportunities for expansion at this point are going to be international , as there are becoming few opportunities in the U . S . until you see some constitutional amendments changed in states like Georgia and Texas ,” he says .
California has 66 tribal gaming establishments operated by 63 tribes , which is the greatest number of tribes engaged in gaming in any state , Siva says . Oklahoma claims more gaming establishments , though they are operated by fewer tribes than California .
www . tribalgovernmentgaming . com 29