Laguna Pueblo’s gaming arm joins coalition combating on-line playing

Laguna Development Corporation, the Laguna Pueblo’s financial improvement arm, has joined advocacy group National Association Against iGaming (NAAiG) coalition. 

The firm is the primary tribal enterprise to affix NAAiG, a bunch of personal operators, native governments and labor unions combating on-line gaming’s fast development. Online gaming threatens brick-and-mortar casinos in states the place it’s authorized, probably inflicting job losses and public well being points round playing dependancy, in response to an NAAiG February report. 

The transfer comes as tribal gaming operations posted document income of $43.9 billion in fiscal 2024, up 4.6% from the earlier 12 months, in response to the National Indian Gaming Commission. The $2 billion enhance marked the fourth consecutive 12 months of record-breaking efficiency for the 532 tribal gaming operations throughout 29 states.

LDC President and CEO Maxine Velasquez stated the corporate joined to guard its on line casino operations. LCD operates Casino Xpress, Dancing Eagle Casino and Route 66 Casino Hotel that make use of 1,000 folks throughout New Mexico.

“As a tribal enterprise, our success is directly tied to the communities we serve and the jobs we support,” Velasquez stated in an announcement. “We are joining NAAiG to make it clear that the voices and sovereign rights of tribal nations must not be ignored as the future of tribal gaming is shaped in this country.”

iGaming permits gamers to wager actual cash by way of geofenced cellular apps. It’s absolutely authorized in seven states and generated roughly $8.41 billion in revenues in 2024, per an American Gaming report. The states are Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Nevada permits solely on-line poker.

Private corporations run on-line playing in six states. Connecticut is the exception, the place the Mohegan and Mashantucket Pequot tribes function on-line casinos alongside their bodily properties. Their on-line playing revenues reached $428.5 million in 2024, up 28% from $334.6 million in 2023, in response to NAAiG. 

Online playing grew 28.7% final 12 months, making it the fastest-growing sector in an total $71.9 billion gaming market. Physical casinos grew simply 0.8% however nonetheless generated $49.8 billion. 

NAAiG discovered states that legalized on-line playing noticed bodily on line casino income drop 15.8% on common, spurring job losses and lowered native spending. 

Tribes are under-represented within the iGaming house and face dangers from wider legalization, NAAiG discovered. Mark Stewart, an NAAiG board member, stated the Laguna Development Corporation introduced a “vital and authentic” voice to the group’s efforts. 

“[LDC] understands firsthand how iGaming threatens more than jobs and revenue,” Stewart stated in an announcement. “It puts tribal sovereignty, cultural heritage and decades of hard-won investment in Native communities at risk.”