News

Minnesota’s Indian tribes, viewed collectively, are the 6th largest employer in Minnesota, based on a list of the top 50 state employers published last week by the Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal.

MIGA Executive Director John McCarthy said that’s a good reason for the state to avoid any actions that might put tribal jobs at risk. He was referring to recent proposals that would expand gambling to racetracks or other metro area locations, forcing substantial job cuts at tribal casinos as well as reductions in tribal government programs and services. (more…)

On Wednesday (July 13), legislators from the Shakopee area held a news conference calling attention to the harm caused to employees of Canterbury Park and Running Aces by the state government shutdown. The tracks, which are regulated by state racing commissioners, have been closed since July 1 because they are not permitted to operate without regulatory oversight. (more…)

A costly pro-racino ad campaign funded by Running Aces Harness Track is promising much more than two racinos actually could deliver for Minnesota, according to Chairman Kevin Leecy of the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa in Northern Minnesota. (more…)

Today’s edition of the Star Tribune carried MIGA’s response to a recent column by Gary Larson, a “columnist” who is well known to Native Americans for his frequent racist rants and hate speech. Here’s the full text of the response by John McCarthy, MIGA executive director. (more…)

The April 28 edition of the Star Tribune carried a provocative commentary by Chaska Minister Gordon C. Stewart of Shepherd of the Hill Presbyterian Church. It is reprinted here in full: (more…)

Despite rain, cold winds and 40-degree temperatures, an estimated 3,000 tribal employees, tribal members and supporters gathered on the mall in front of the Minnesota State Capitol yesterday to highlight their concerns about potential tribal job losses if the state legislature authorizes slot machines at licensed racetracks in Minnesota. The “Don’t Gamble with Our Jobs” rally was organized by the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association (MIGA). (more…)

Tribal employees, vendors and supporters will hold a “Don’t Gamble With Our Jobs” rally on the steps of the State Capitol on Tuesday (April 26) at 1 pm. The event is designed to highlight the fears of thousands of tribal employees who could lose their jobs if the legislature adopts any of the gambling expansion proposals now on the table. (more…)

The March 26 edition of the Winona Daily News carried a strongly worded editorial opposing proposed racino legislation in Minnesota. Here’s the full text of the column: (more…)

The top official of a conservative Minnesota think tank has called the campaign to expand gambling “a crusade for bigger government.” The March 26 edition of the Star-Tribune featured a guest column by Freedom Foundation CEO Annette Meeks. Meeks challenged the basic assumption that gambling expansion would produce significant benefits for the state. Here’s the complete text. (more…)

A March 21 blog by internationally recognized Indian gaming law experts Kathryn R.L. Rand and Steven Andrew Knight, co-directors of the Institute for the Study of Tribal Gaming Law and Policy at the University of North Dakota, urges Minnesota legislators to think carefully before adopting gambling policies from dadu online that might include rural areas of the state. Here’s what Rand and Knight had to say: (more…)