TRIBAL GAMING IN FOCUS
Two Idaho Tribes Partner for Casino Proposal
In Idaho, BoiseDev reported April 15 the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of the Duck Valley Reservation has purchased a 557-acre plot between Mountain Home and Boise. It is proposing an off-reservation casino at the site in a partnership with the Coeur d’Alene Tribe, which would invest in and operate the casino. The Sho-Pai Tribes, the only tribe in the state without a casino, would retain sole ownership, a requirement for any tribal gaming project.
“I dream of a future where our members have the resources, education, healthcare and employment opportunities they need to care for their families and preserve our way of life,” Shoshone-Paiute Chairman Brian Mason said in a press release. “A future where our children have hope and believe the best days are still ahead of them. Today, we have no meaningful economic opportunities and our community is facing some heavy challenges because of it. We want to solve our own problems and provide for our people. Tribal gaming will allow us to make these dreams into a reality.”
So far, few details of the project have been announced, including the exact location of the parcel. Mason told BoiseDev the “long-term vision for the project includes the latest in tribal gaming machines, fine dining options, a spa, fitness center and an entertainment venue.” A hotel is also planned.
As an off-reservation casino, the project will require several approvals that on-reservation projects do not, including a sign-off from the state. The added hurdles make such projects extremely difficult to achieve, but former President Joe Biden’s administration in the final days of his term approved multiple off-reservation projects.
Alaska AG Seeks Injunction Over Eklutna Tribal Casino
Alaska Attorney General Treg Taylor has asked a federal court in Washington, D.C. for a preliminary injunction to cease operations at the Native Village of Eklutna’s Chin’an Gaming Hall facility on the outskirts of Anchorage, per KNBA. The motion is the latest in a suit first filed in February.
Currently, the temporary facility is just a doublewide trailer with 85 gaming machines. But the tribe plans to build a permanent facility at the site with 700 machines after securing federal approval for the project in January, in the last days of President Joe Biden’s administration.
Unlike in the lower 48 states, tribes in Alaska had previously been barred from opening casinos, but an opinion from former Department of Interior Solicitor Bob Anderson last year allowed for new interpretations of the law. As such, the Eklunta Tribe has been able to operate the temporary facility for now, but it warns that the latest suit could upend those efforts.
“If Governor Dunleavy and Attorney General Treg Taylor are successful in their quest to preempt the Native Village of Eklutna’s tribal sovereignty and self-determination, it could mean an end to the Chin’an Gaming Hall and the permanent facility that the Tribe intends to develop,” Eklutna President Aaron Leggett said in a statement. “It will undoubtedly discourage other Tribes across our state in our communities.”
Mohegan Secures Massive Debt Refinancing
Following a massive loss in FY24 and a takeover of its Inspire resort in South Korea by creditors in February, the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority has issued $1.2 billion in new secured notes as part of a refinancing package, per the Hartford Business Journal.
A Mohegan subsidiary April 10 closed on $750 million of senior notes due in 2030 at 8.25 percent and $450 million of senior notes due in 2031 at 11.875 percent. The lenders were not disclosed, and the proceeds were placed in escrow.
The company said that the offering is “a first step in the expected closing of significant refinancing transactions,” which includes a five-year $250 million revolving credit facility with “a syndicate of banks.”
Jackpot Junction Back Online After Cyberattack
The latest cyberattack on tribal casinos appeared to have subsided when the Minnesota’s Lower Sioux Indian Community announced April 11 that the systems at its Jackpot Junction Casino Hotel were back online following an attack in late March, per the Star Tribune. According to the paper, a Russian hacker group known as RansomHub claimed the attack, but this is unconfirmed.
Dan Van Ness Named Agua Caliente Entertainment Director
Agua Caliente Casinos announced the appointment of Dan Van Ness as director of entertainment. Van Ness will oversee all entertainment operations across the company’s three properties in Rancho Mirage, Palm Springs and Cathedral City, California.
With more than 35 years of experience in the entertainment industry, spanning roles in talent buying, production management and venue operations, Van Ness brings a wealth of expertise to Agua Caliente’s entertainment division. He will report directly to Pearl Aguinaldo, VP of marketing, and Saverio R. Scheri III, chief operating officer of Agua Caliente Casinos. His appointment is effective immediately.
Van Ness previously served as entertainment tech production manager, where he was responsible for managing entertainment production across all three properties. His leadership and expertise in the entertainment sector were integral in elevating the guest experience.
In his expanded role, Van Ness will collaborate closely with talent buyers to ensure a diverse and exciting lineup of performances, concerts and events that appeal to a broad audience.
