September 23, 2005

Last modified September 23, 2005 - 12:22 am

By JODI RAVE
Missoulian

MISSOULA - Tribal representatives from across Montana met this week to mark the beginning of what they see as a new era for tribal gambling in the state.

Leaders representing six of the seven reservations in the state left a meeting in Billings on Tuesday ready to announce creation of the Montana Tribal Gaming Association, an organization intent on strengthening Montana tribes' gambling opportunities.

"From a tribal perspective, the compacting-negotiation process is very difficult to date," Joe Dupuis, Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes executive tribal secretary, said. "Tribes have not been given the appropriate consideration for expanding gaming on their reservations."

In 1988, Congress passed the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act to establish guidelines so tribes could operate gambling businesses to further economic development in their communities.

While hundreds of tribes across the country have established lucrative casino operations, Montana tribal casinos have provided little profit or jobs to American Indian communities when compared to tribes across the country, including their immediate neighbors.

"Montana tribes are not looking for financial handouts," said Ron Trahan, vice chairman of the Salish and Kootenai Tribes.

In 2004, North Dakota tribes' gaming revenue topped $96.9 million, and Idaho tribes netted $140 million, according to the 2005 Indian Gaming Industry Report by Alan Meister, an economist with Analysis Group. Montana tribes' revenue for the same time period, however, barely hit $16.3 million.

Montana tribal leaders point to the low revenue numbers as proof of their inability to negotiate meaningful gaming compacts with the state. Current state gambling compacts typically limit tribes to 150 machines per tribal casino. Tribes also point to the disparity of machines they operate compared to non-Indian casino owners.

Montana tribes operated a total of 814 gaming machines in 2004, according to the gaming report. The Montana Gaming Group estimates private businesses in the state operate 17,300 machines.

The Montana Tribal Gaming Association's membership includes the Blackfeet Nation, Chippewa Cree of the Rocky Boy's Reservation, the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, the Crow Nation, the Gros Ventre and Assiniboine Tribes of the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation, and the Northern Cheyenne Nation.

Five of the seven federally recognized tribal governments in Montana have negotiated gambling compacts with the state.