The gains and losses of Tribal gaming

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The Gains and Losses of Tribal Gaming Within the past few decades, tribal gaming has become one of the foremost influential variables effecting the sovereignty of Indian tribes and their status within the United States. The role which gaming facilities play within the Native American culture is one that has come to both help and hinder their progress in society. The catalyst which propelled the Native people to live subservient lives upon reservations, was that of Westward Expansion in the 1800s, forcing them to carry out their lives in destitute conditions and assimilate into a society they wanted no part of. This forcible means of assimilation included expectations placed on the people to find a means of gaining monetary advantages, although assistance as to how this would be achieved, was not readily available. Countless Indian tribes endured terrible conditions within the reservations and received scare funds from the government to improve their living conditions, which contributed to the tremendous disadvantages they faced in a predominately white society. Treaties made in regards to their land, were often disregarded or twisted to fit the needs of the government, yet they were the dim hope Native Americans had in regaining some sort of identity one day. Decades later, the hope of becoming a truly sovereign nation came in the form of gaming establishments, which generated revenue for the tribes. The degree to which gaming has benefited the tribes is debatable, as it has produced a means of generating economic activity, all the while forcing them to continue assimilating into a culture they never chose to be a part of. Great gains have come from the opening of casinos on tribal land, ranging from economic benefits to social recognition, yet harmful results have developed as well that continue to act as a barriers to the success of gaming on Indian territory.
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