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Ian Philbrick
Conrad
ERWC
26 october 2015
Native American Casinos
Do you think its right that one group of people should be given unique privileges?
Native Americans are the only people in most states who are allowed to have casinos. Many
people believe that Native Americans are entitled to them because of the injustices that have
been committed against them in the past, however, it is still not right that they should receive any
special treatment to do something that may even be harmful to the community.
At the very least Native American Casinos need to be more heavily regulated. Even
though Native American reservations have their own laws, these casinos still have a tremendous
flow of currency going through them that needs to be taxed and regulated. Without the proper
levels of government interaction it is easy for the casinos to launder money and withhold it from
their tribe for their own personal use. According to Zach Einters, It was the competition for
lucrative Indian gaming contracts that led to the corruptions of many casinos. Many of the
regulations on gambling are unclear, but it is obvious that something needs to be done because
the majority of Natives are below the poverty line despite the massive income from casinos.
Not only is there a lack of economic growth for the tribes as a result of legal gambling,
but there is also a lack of growth to the communities that the casinos are near.One of the main
selling points for Native casinos is that tehey will supposedly bring buisness to the nearby
communities, however studies have shown that thats is not true. A University of South Dakota
survey showed that South Dakota suffered a net loss of approximately $60 million in

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anticipated sales in the year following the introduction of gambling and also that more than
half of businesses were negatively affected by gambling. There was a small percentage (3%)
who claimed that their business increase as a result of a casino, but that number is not significant
enough to raise any valid argument. Not only does it hurt the economy, it hurts people and their
families. University of Illinois Professor Henry Lesieur says that of problem gamblers, 57
percent admitted stealing to finance their gambling. Collectively, they stole $30 million, for an
average of $135,000 per individual. These problem gamblers steal from their families and
collect debt. Other studies have shown that gambling addiction is much higher in areas with
Native american casinos or other forms of legal gambling.
Many people argue that we should allow these Native American casinos to make
up for the injustices committed the Natives. However it doesn't seem fair to give special
privileges to the natives in a way that is hardly beneficial. Even if these casinos make money for
the tribes it doesn't even begin to make up for what was taken and it is a poor attempt at justice.
The best defense for the casinos is the legal defense. Reservations are part of the united
states, but are independent of the states that they are located in. Because of this they are entitled
to states rights and can decide whether or not to have legal gambling. That's all completely legal,
however it shouldn't be allowed because it has such an impact on the community outside of the
reservation, so the decision should be made in collaboration with the state.
Overall Native American casinos are a bad deal. There are very few pros and very many
cons. They are bad for the economy, for the moral fabric of society, and they are not beneficial to
the tribes and people they claim that they are helping.I believe there should be reform in the
policies regarding Native American gaming and that if it stays, it should be a non-profit intended
only to help the Native Americans.

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Works Cited

Krutz, Jonathan. "Casinos Hurt Local Businesses." Indian Gaming. Ed. Stuart A. Kallen.
San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2006. At Issue. Rpt. from "Gambling's Impact on the Business

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Community."www.gamblingwiththegoodlife.com. 2004. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web.


26 Oct. 2015.

Cushman, Candi. "Indian Casinos Lead to Gambling Addiction." Indian Gaming. Ed.
Stuart A. Kallen. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2006. At Issue. Rpt. from "Major Reservations."
Citizen Magazine (Aug. 2002).Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 27 Oct. 2015.

Einterz, Zach. "The Bureau of Indian Affairs Is Corrupt and Dysfunctional and Should Be
Eliminated." Native Americans. Ed. Lynn M. Zott. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2012. Opposing
Viewpoints. Rpt. from "Abolish the Bureau of Indian Affairs." Observer 20 Feb. 2007. Opposing
Viewpoints in Context. Web. 27 Oct. 2015.

Larson, Gary. "Tribal-Owned Casinos Take Money Away from State and Local
Economies." Native Americans. Ed. Lynn M. Zott. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2012. Opposing
Viewpoints. Rpt. from "Protecting the Native American Casino Monopoly in Minnesota."
Intellectual Conservative. 2011. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 27 Oct. 2015.

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