National Council on Problem Gambling Tribal Advisory Council to Help Native American Communities

Native American tribal communities face specific issues related to problem gambling that the NCPG's Tribal Advisory Council will seek to address.
Photo by Nathapon Jitrakman/Shutterstock

The National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) has formed a Tribal Advisory Council to promote responsible gaming and address problem gambling among Native American communities. While it has worked with Tribal entities for years, through the Council, the NCPG aims to enhance its collaboration with Native American Communities by increasing awareness and respect for their culture among both Native and non-native communities.

According to Keith Whyte, NCPG Executive Director, the organization’s relationships with Tribal gaming entities have laid a strong foundation for the Council. He added,

Our work with tribes is based on a deep respect for Tribal sovereignty and our core values of neutrality, collaboration, respect and credibility. We have a responsibility to listen and learn, as well as the opportunity to share our knowledge as we seek to reduce the social costs of gambling addiction and improve health and wellness in all communities.

NCPG is a non-profit organization that fights problem gambling while promoting responsible gaming.

Introducing the Eight-Member Tribal Advisory Council

Founding members of the Tribal Advisory Council include:

  • Raquel Buari, J.D. – Executive Vice President, Four Winds Casinos
  • Jacob Coin – Executive Advisor, San Manuel Tribal Council, San Manuel Band of Mission Indians
  • Shannon Dictson – President, Responsible Gaming Association of New Mexico
  • Anika Howard – CEO of Wondr Nation, Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation
  • Maria Lopez – Executive Director, Pascua Yaqui Tribal Gaming Office
  • Matthew Morgan – Chairman, Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association
  • Ray Pineault, J.D. – President and CEO, Mohegan
  • James Siva – Chairman, California Nations Indian Gaming Association

NCPG has partnered with the Trilogy Group, led by Valerie Spicer and Sheila Morago, to facilitate the Council’s work. The Trilogy Group is a Native American-owned organization with over 50 years of combined experience in Tribal gaming and economic development. Spicer, Trilogy’s Founding Partner and CEO, applauded the Council’s formation. She said:

This work acknowledges the significance of Tribal Gaming in the gambling sector, the impacts of Tribal gaming on communities, and ways we can support finding balance in helping people heal from gambling-related harm respectfully amid the complexity.

Council to Get Involved Right Away

The eight-member Council has already begun work. Members are participating in the National Conference on Gambling Addiction and Responsible Gambling 2024, taking place in San Diego from July 17 to July 19.

The Council will participate in two sessions today. The first, Truth and Rehabilitation: Recognizing and Addressing Historical Trauma in Tribal Communities Through Rehabilitation, will discuss the impact of historical trauma on Native American communities. It will also show examples of truth and reconciliation to help work with Native tribes.

The second session is titled Perspectives and Advancements in Tribal Responsible Gaming. Tribal representatives will discuss insights, challenges, best practices, and responsible gaming initiatives in tribal gaming.

Native Americans Face Greater Problem Gambling Risk

Additional resources will be welcome news for Tribal communities. According to multiple studies, Native Americans face higher risks of gambling addiction and problem gambling than other ethnic groups.

Washington University Professor David Patterson Silver Wolf puts the problem gambling rate among Native Americans at 2.3%, double the average for US adults. Silver Wolf, a Cherokee descendent, added that other substance abuse disorders usually accompany gambling addiction. Several other studies have confirmed the link between gambling disorder and other addictions.

Another study by the Research Institute on Addictions at the University at Buffalo has found that 80.1% of Native Americans have gambled in the past year. That’s the highest among the ethnic groups studied; 76.6% of African Americans and 76.9% of “White/Other” respondents had done so. The study found that, by its criteria, 18.2% of Native Americans could be classified as problem gamblers, compared to 12.7% of Blacks and more than double the 7.5% rate among Whites/Others. (Different studies use different diagnostic criteria for “problem gambling,” so these rates aren’t directly comparable to those from Silver Wolf’s study.)

In many states, Tribes enjoy special privileges when it comes to offering gambling. Where that’s the case, it is an important source of revenue for the communities. However, that proximity and exposure to gambling, combined with these statistics, show why a special Advisory Council to address the issue is warranted.

About the Author

Chav Vasilev

Chav Vasilev

After years of managing fast-casual restaurants, Chav turned his passion for sports and occasional slot wins into a career as an iGaming writer. Sharing his time between Europe and the US, he has been exposed to betting and gambling for years and has closely followed the growth in the US. Chav is a proponent of playing responsibly and playing only at legal online sites. When not writing, you will find him watching and betting on sports, especially soccer, or trying to land the next big bonus on a slot.
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