Steve’s Quoted in the San Bernardino Sun Re. the San Manuel Band

When it comes to economic diversification stemming from gaming revenue, the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians is leading the way. Tribal officials from the San Manuel Band, the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians in San Diego County and the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin have formed Three Fires LLC and are about to kick of the grand opening of their Marriott Residence Inn in Sacramento. Marriott also partnered with these tribes and the Potawatomi in Wisconsin to open a hotel in Washington, D.C., located near the National Museum of the American Indian.

Steve is quoted on the San Manuel Band in the August 26 edition of the San Bernardino (CA) Sun. Although the article in part is focused on the political implications of the tribe opening a hotel near the state’s capital, Steve further contextualizes the politics of the issue thusly:

"'At one level it just makes good business sense. No one suggests that you should put all your eggs in one basket,' said Steven Light, a political scientist and co-director of the Institute for the Study of Tribal Gaming Law and Policy at the University of North Dakota. 'It also makes good political sense because there is no guarantee that the status quo as far as federal and state policy and regulation will remain the same in regard to Indian gaming.'

He said the San Manuel partnership with the three tribes in opening a Marriott in Washington was a pioneering effort in that the tribes secured a visible and reputable corporate partner in Marriott.

'If a tribe can convince a corporate partner to come on board in any venture, especially off the reservation, the tribe has almost instant credibility with investors and local officials,' Light said."

It’s easy to underestimate how significant gaming revenue is in getting financial institutions and commercial investors to partner with tribes on enterprises that otherwise would be left on the drawing board. Several tribes in California are meeting tremendous success in that regard; however, there are lesser ventures operated by those at the other end of the spectrum of success sprinkled throughout the U.S.

Read the article here.