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Gaming |
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| Casinos owned by tribal communities have been highly
visible in recent years. Sovereignty rights allow these casinos to function independently of
state regulation, thus providing competitive advantage. A number of tribal communities have
reaped the benefits of this advantage and have contributed income from gaming back to the tribal
community as a means of funding education, health care, and other community interests. |
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| Current competitive advantages enjoyed by tribal
communities in the area of gaming can and will erode, however, as states and corporations look
for ways to tap into this wealth. Inter-tribal organizations such as the National Indian
Gaming Association represent tribal gaming businesses in their efforts to protect common interests.
In addition, many tribal communities are diversifying their business portfolios by surrounding
their casinos with hotel, restaurant, and retail businesses. Economic clusters of this sort
are harder for potential competitors to replicate. |
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| In recent years, cultural tourism has provided
tribal communities with a new economic opportunity to mine. |
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| Interest in the rich history and culture of Native
American peoples has led many tribal communities to base their economic development plans around
tourism. For example, the Eastern Band of Cherokees have developed many attractions, including
the Museum of the Cherokee Indian, the Oconaluftee Indian Village, and a renowned arts collective,
to generate tourism business. |
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