What You Need to Know About - Native Americans and Gambling

Home
>
Casino & Gambling
>
What You Need to Know About - Native Americans and Gambling

What You Need to Know About - Native Americans and Gambling

The term 'Gambling' is synonymous to 'Gaming'. Gaming or Gambling is deeply rooted in the life of Native Americans. If we probe into the history of life of Native Americans and gambling, we find that the kind of gambling that used to be there was strikingly different from the gambling in today's era. The literal meaning of the term 'gambling' did not apply in those days. The games were less of the play in which someone wins and the other loses but were more of the auspicious ceremonies that were a part of every Native American's life.

The Native Americans used to play games in an amicable fashion to have a joyful pastime. They were not so much concerned in framing the winning strategies but their chief purpose was to enjoy. Besides amusement Native Americans had some superstitions attached to their games too. For instance they were of the opinion that the force or power that guides and determines the result if their game is the force that regulates the entire cosmos. This force is responsible for the events in the life of all living beings as well as for the course of the Mother Nature. Thus it was sort of mandatory for them to play. It was also thought that not playing the games might offend the guiding force.

But this simplicity of the tradition was mutilated and reformed by the Europeans. The Europeans enclosed these austere games under the ambit of 'gambling' where the men who play are not participants in any ceremony but are 'gamblers'. These gamblers put something at stake to get something more in return. Thus for the Europeans these games had just one meaning and interpretation- gamble i.e. to win or to lose.

Time has changed and so the people, the styles and reasons to play games, the awareness of these games?all have taken a new dimension. The games that used to be modes of entertainment now have a special and significant contribution to their economy. The tribal government of California and some tribes there has signed or has agreed to certain compacts. These compacts are meant to provide sharing of money in the form of revenue with the other Indian and non-gaming tribes. The revenues so collected by the tribal government are invested in the general welfare of the tribal people like building houses for them, education, health and hygiene, water and food facilities etc. The IGRA or Indian Gaming Regulation Act plays an important role in this area. For it is meant to monitor the manner in which the revenues obtained from the gaming industry's profits, are spent by the tribal governments. The gaming industry is acknowledged as the most flourishing Indian economic enterprise available to the Native Americans. The consequences trickle down further as nearly 2.7 billion dollar proceeds were utilized in paying federal taxes, 1.8 million is for the state income taxes and 2.8 billion is handed over to social security. Not just this but the revenue has also helped tremendously in creating new jobs and so settling employment for the unemployed.

Thus the surrounding communities and their small economies are also largely benefited by this industry.

However, there always remains a threat of the Native American people especially youngsters falling in the trap of several abuses like drug abuse, alcohol and the like.

To alleviate this menace the tribal governments and also the media have arranged several programs that educate the Native as well as the non-Native Americans of the perils of gambling addiction.

The gaming is profoundly embedded in the life of Native Americans. Its maintenance and continuance helps the younger generations in knowing the tastes and richness of the older ones. The gaming is so well nurtured and kindled by the Native Americans like a mother cares and encourages her child throughout her life.

Suresh gupta writes about native americans and gambling topics. Learn more at http://www.nativeamericanbets.com.

In The News:

Yahoo! News: Top Stories

Democrats: Obama needs hands-on economic approach (AP)

AP - Democrats are growing impatient with President-elect Barack Obama's refusal to inject himself in the major economic crises confronting the country. Obama has sidestepped some policy questions by saying there is only one president at a time. But the dodge is wearing thin.

Carmakers' bailout pleas hit Senate skepticism (AP)

AP - Desperate U.S. automakers ran into fresh obstacles from skeptical lawmakers Thursday as they appealed with rising urgency and a new dose of humility for a $34 billion bailout. Without help, said one senator, "we're looking at a death sentence."

India names Pakistani masterminds, date plot to 07 (AP)

AP - A Pakistani militant group apparently used an Indian operative as far back as 2007 to scout targets for the elaborate plot against India's financial capital, authorities said Thursday, a blow to Indian officials who have blamed the deadly attacks entirely on Pakistani extremists.

US mulls unusual tactic as Blackwater charges loom (AP)

AP - Blackwater Worldwide guards involved in the deadly 2007 Baghdad shooting of Iraqi civilians could face mandatory 30-year prison sentences under an aggressive anti-drug law being considered as the Justice Department readies indictments, people close to the case said.

Calif. couple charged with torturing, abusing teen (AP)

AP - A husband and wife were charged Thursday with kidnapping and torturing a 17-year-old boy authorities say was sometimes kept shackled inside their home. The boy's one-time guardian also was charged with similar abuse allegations.

Minn. teen girls charged in nursing home abuse (AP)

AP - Two teenage girls who worked at a nursing home have been charged with abuse, accused of taunting, spitting on and groping residents who suffered from Alzheimer's disease.

Convict's mom goes undercover, gets dirt on juror (AP)

AP - Doreen Giuliano was obsessed with saving her son from a life behind bars after he was convicted of murder. She gave herself an extreme makeover blonde dye job, fake tan, sexy wardrobe, phony name and began spying on jurors. She befriended one juror to root out any possible misdeeds at the trial, and for nearly eight months, they drank at bars, smoked marijuana and shared meals in her tiny Brooklyn hideaway.

Ex-'CHiPs' star Estrada to patrol with Ind. police (AP)

AP - Erik Estrada has returned to Muncie to take part in overnight police patrols in the city where he starred in the short-lived reality series "Armed & Famous." The former star of the 1970s motorcycle cop drama "CHiPs" is a reserve officer on the Muncie Police Department.

Man allegedly assaults girlfriend with burger (AP)

AP - A Vero Beach man faces a domestic violence charge after authorities said he assaulted his girlfriend with a cheeseburger. An Indian River County Sheriff's Office arrest report said a 22-year-old man and his girlfriend got into an argument as they sat in a car in front of their home.

Avery has 3-hour hearing with NHL commissioner (AP)

AP - Sean Avery surged past camera crews and reporters Thursday, choosing to save his comments this time for NHL commissioner Gary Bettman during a three-hour disciplinary hearing. The Dallas Stars forward was suspended indefinitely on Tuesday just hours after he used a crude expression to describe former girlfriends now dating others while speaking to reporters.

Senators grill auto CEOs, eye GM-Chrysler deal (Reuters)

Reuters - The CEOs of General Motors Corp and Chrysler LLC said they would consider restarting talks about a merger during a nearly six-hour congressional grilling on the industry's pleas for $34 billion in government aid.

AT&T cuts 12,000 jobs (Reuters)

Reuters - Top U.S. phone company AT&T Inc said it will eliminate 12,000 jobs, or about 4 percent of its workforce, in a fresh wave of cuts to cope with an economic downturn that has exacerbated a decline in traditional phone sales.

Europeans cut interest rates sharply to fight crisis (Reuters)

Reuters - Central banks in Europe slashed their benchmark interest rates by record amounts on Thursday to fight the global economic crisis, while U.S. automakers pleaded for a bailout to avoid collapse.

Pakistan vows to hunt Mumbai attack plotters (Reuters)

Reuters - U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Thursday Pakistan had given assurances of its commitment to root out terrorism and round up anyone connected to last week's attack in the Indian city of Mumbai.

Iraq Presidency Council approves U.S. troop pact (Reuters)

Reuters - Iraq's Presidency Council has approved a security pact with the United States that paves the way for a complete U.S. troop pullout by the end of 2011, a spokesman for the council said on Thursday.

Russia's Putin makes warm overtures to Obama (Reuters)

Reuters - The United States will quickly feel a change in attitude from Moscow if President-elect Barack Obama transforms Washington's policies toward Russia, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said on Thursday.

Thai king ill, misses much-anticipated speech (Reuters)

Reuters - Thailand's revered and influential king missed his traditional birthday eve address due to illness on Thursday, a speech many Thais had hoped would provide short-term relief to the country's intractable political crisis.

Arab-American hate crimes down since 9/11 (Reuters)

Reuters - Hate crimes against Arab Americans have decreased steadily since the September 11 attacks but are still more common than they were before the hijackings, a civil rights group said on Thursday.

European central banks slash interest rates to tackle recession (AFP)

AFP - Leading European central banks took historic action Thursday to ward off spreading recessions, slashing their key lending rates to boost businesses and consumers.

Bombers hit Fallujah as Iraq-U.S. pact endorsed (AFP)

AFP - Car bombers killed at least 15 people in a former rebel bastion on Thursday as Iraq's security pact with Washington won final approval before its launch at the end of the month.

What You Need to Know About - Native Americans and Gambling

Casino & Gambling Casino & Gambling