Last year, as many as a dozen states started laying the foundation for regulated online gambling, which curiously has left the Tribes behind. Illinois and Minnesota have launched online lotteries, Delaware, Nevada and New Jersey have allowed their land-based casinos to launch online websites allowing each state’s residents to play casino and poker games online.
Many now believe that its time for Native American tribes to also enter into the online gambling industry and claim their share of this profitable market. Entering the online gambling market in the US would allow these tribes to become more self-sufficient and sovereign.
One of the best ways to help the tribes to become economically self-sufficient is to allow them to go online with their gambling services and expanding their market share in the industry. Tribes that do not own casinos could instead own online gambling services and participate in the industry. It is expected that tribes will make the first move towards online gambling during 2014.