Indian Gaming in the United

¶ … Indian gaming in the United States. Specifically it will discuss the pros and cons of Indian gaming. Indian gaming (legalized gaming on Native American reservations and lands) began in 1988, and has spread across the country. There are now Indian gaming casinos in a majority of American states, and they account for a large percentage of gaming revenues in the nation. Because these casinos are located on tribal lands, they avoid the regulations of the state where they are located, and operate under Federal Law.

The pros of Indian gaming are many. Many Native American tribes that have invested in Indian gaming are seeing spectacular results. Their casinos generate the type of income they have never seen before, and many wise tribes are diversifying that income into other investments, building resorts, golf courses, restaurants, and other businesses to support the casinos and diversify their investments. This increased income is spread throughout the tribe, so tribe members can afford better housing, and other amenities. In addition, many tribes earmarks profits to educate their young people, which could not occur when tribes were poor and underfunded.

Income is not the only benefit the casinos bring to Native tribes. They bring opportunities for employment in the casinos and other business ventures, and they often bring other developments to the area, such as shopping and other venues that did not exist in the area before. They bring more opportunities for the residents, but at what cost?

However, there are many cons to Indian gaming, as well. Of course, the casinos and influx of people change the culture and landscape of the area, and usually not for the better. They use much more energy, and they are expensive to build and maintain, which means the tribe will need to borrow money to begin the venture, and pay it off in a timely manner. Probably the biggest cons about Indian gaming are the social aspects of casinos that can create many more social problems within the tribe and the surrounding community. First, casinos often offer free alcohol to gamblers, and this can lead to alcohol addiction and dependence. Gaming itself can become an addictive behavior, as well. These addictive behaviors require treatment, so treatment facilities and methods may have to be developed in the community, and the casinos can also draw corruption and crime to the area. The social problems surrounding casinos are many, and if they come to an area that is not used to them, they can wreak havoc in a community.