G2E Podcasts » Indian Gaming

Tribal Labor Relations: Sovereignty or Solutions

Rob — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 04:02:23 +0000

The issue of labor relations in Indian Country can be a thorny one. As sovereign nations, tribes have the right to set their own labor rules, but sometimes employees have a different idea. Hear both from tribes with existing employee contracts and those considering them about how they can retain their sovereignty while satisfying the labor requests of their employees. The possible impact of the “Employee Free Choice Act” on tribal casinos, also known as the card-check bill, is discussed.

Moderator:
Jason Giles, Deputy Director & General Counsel, National Indian Gaming Association (NIGA)

Speakers:
Henry M. Buffalo Jr., Managing Shareholder, Jacobson Buffalo Magnuson Anderson & Hogen, PC
Gyasi Ross, Tribal Attorney, Port Madison Enterprises, Suquamish Tribe
Michele Stanley, Tribal Council, Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan

When Down Seems Like Up: The Impact of the Economy on Tribal Gaming

Rob — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 03:59:52 +0000

While all casinos are impacted by the economy, tribal gaming operations have special concerns. Since the revenue from tribal gaming funds government operations, health care, infrastructure, housing and per capita distributions, as well as construction loans and financial obligations to the states, any decline is serious. This session examines the ramifications of lower revenues on a tribe’s finances and how it can be handled.vCan a sovereign government declare bankruptcy? Hear the experts’ opinions.

Moderator:
Jana McKeag, President, Lowry Strategies

Speakers:
Fredric Gushin, Managing Director, Spectrum Gaming Group
Daniel N. Lewis, Vice Chairman, Tribal Financial Advisors, Inc.
Kevin Quigley, Indian Gaming Business Counsel, Hamilton Quigley & Twait PLC

Tribal Sovereignty: Limiting Non-Tribal Jurisdiction over Casino Patron Disputes

Rob — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 03:57:15 +0000

While sovereignty sometimes can protect tribes against claims, it also can be a problem. This session examines how tribes should draft their tort claims ordinances to ensure the utmost protection of their sovereignty and maintain control over patron disputes. Experts present and discuss recent cases dealing with tribal ordinances and demonstrate, through analysis of these cases, that careful drafting of the tribal ordinance is critical to ensuring that state court jurisdiction is limited to the requirements of applicable tribal-state compacts.

Moderator:
Daniel Little, Manager of National Governmental Affairs, Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation

Speakers:
Michael Anderson, Attorney, AndersonTuell, LLP
Carl Artman, Attorney, Godfrey & Kahn
Zehava Zevit, Ph.D., Attorney, Holland & Knight LLP

Regulation & Respect: Tribal Commissioners Working Together

Rob — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 03:54:13 +0000

The old saw about the fox guarding the henhouse could not be any further from the truth when considering tribal regulatory agencies. This session brings together several tribal gaming commissioners to discuss how they do their jobs by working with tribes, states and the federal government.

Moderator:
Anthony Miranda, Chairman, California Nations Indian Gaming Association (CNIGA)

Speakers:
Tracy Burris, Gaming Commissioner, Viejas Government Gaming Commission
Lena Hammons, Tribal Gaming Director, Tulalip Tribal Gaming Commission
Jamie Hummingbird, Director, Cherokee Nation Gaming Commission

Tribal Compacts 2.0: The Next Generation

Rob — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 03:49:20 +0000

The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) prohibits states from taxing tribal gaming revenues. Tribes may, however, agree to share a limited portion of their gaming proceeds with state and local governments, subject to approval by the Secretary of the Interior. To ensure that these compacts are not interpreted as imposing taxes and therefore in violation of IGRA, states and tribes are beginning to develop a new generation of compacts that include revenue sharing models designed to provide more certainty and enforceability. This panel provides background regarding compacts and older models, and explain how this next generation of revenue sharing can benefit tribal and state governments alike.

Moderator:
Mark Van Norman, Executive Director, National Indian Gaming Association (NIGA)

Speakers:
Scott Crowell, Attorney, Crowell Law Offices
Ezekiel Fletcher, Attorney, Rosette & Associates, P.C.
Paula Hart, Director, Office of Indian Gaming, US Department of the Interior

National Indian Gaming Commission: An Update

Rob — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 03:46:23 +0000

With at least one new member, the National Indian Gaming Commission will be re-tooled to consider a wide range of issues that will impact Indian Country. This session brings together the current members of the commission for an annual update on the role of this federal agency in overseeing tribal gaming and what its members hope to accomplish during the upcoming year. Topics discussed include Class II gaming, off-reservation gaming and the relationship of the NIGC with other federal bodies, including the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Moderator:
Ernie Stebbins, Executive Director, Washington Indian Gaming Association

Speakers:
Norm DesRosiers, Vice Chairman, National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC)
George Skibine, Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Indian Affairs, Acting Chairman, National Indian Gaming Commission