A 20-acre site on Douglas Island is poised to become a new gaming hall, following the green light from federal authorities to the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska. The National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) has sanctioned the tribe’s revised gaming ordinance, enabling Class II gaming activities on the Jimmie George Allotment, a piece of restricted Native territory leased to the tribe close to Fish Creek Road.
This location, which is adjacent to Juneau’s Eaglecrest Ski Area, has generated considerable interest over the years. Although it was cleared for development in 2018 and used intermittently for seasonal fireworks sales, substantial progress has been limited until recently. In August, the area was marked with “No Trespassing” and construction signs, as heavy machinery and building supplies were visible on-site, indicating that construction was underway.
In a statement to KTOO, Tlingit and Haida representative Dixie Hutchinson verified that the tribe is engaged in the development of a gaming facility. She emphasized that this project “aligns with Tlingit and Haida’s larger mission to enhance revenue streams that support essential programs and services for tribal community members.”
The tribe is set to provide Class II gaming options, which encompass pull tabs, bingo, and electronic slot-like machines. Under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA), these facilities are permitted when managed on qualifying land by federally recognized tribes, though table games like poker and blackjack are not included in Class II gaming.
The approval from the NIGC, conveyed via a letter to Tlingit and Haida President Chalyee Éesh Richard Peterson by Acting Chair Sharon M. Avery, affirms that the tribe’s ordinance and initiatives comply with federal regulations.
This site-specific approval pertains to the Jimmie George Allotment, part of a wider 220-acre land exchange completed in 2003. This parcel is leased to the tribe for an extended period of up to 50 years and remains federally protected from sale or taxation.
For many years, Alaska tribes have faced challenges in establishing casino-style establishments due to both federal and state interpretations that classified Native allotments in Alaska as not being “Indian country,” rendering them ineligible under IGRA. This view thwarted prior efforts, including a 2020 request from Tlingit and Haida, which was denied during the Trump administration.
A 2024 ruling from the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Solicitor clarified that Alaska Native allotments might be designated as Indian country if tribes exercise considerable jurisdiction and governmental functions. This ruling has paved the way for developments like this and another project in Anchorage.
Professor Michelle Jaagal Aat Demmert from the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ tribal governance department, who has also served as the Tlingit and Haida’s former chief justice, shared with KTOO that this ruling carries significant implications. She highlighted that gaming serves a vital governmental function for many tribes.
“Often viewed merely as lucrative ventures, gaming initiatives encompass much more,” she noted. “They provide avenues for revenue and the potential to reinvest directly into governmental systems, thereby delivering essential services to community members.”
Though Hutchinson did not specify when the Douglas Island facility might open, she stressed that the project remains in its nascent phases. She indicated that profits from the gaming hall would be redirected into programs benefitting tribal members.
This initiative at Douglas Island follows a recent effort by the Native Village of Eklutna, which launched a gaming hall near Anchorage in February on a Native allotment. This opening spurred legal opposition from the State of Alaska, arguing that Native allotments fall under state jurisdiction. This lawsuit is still ongoing.
Despite the surrounding legal complexities, the federal government has remained steadfast in its updated viewpoint. In the letter approving Tlingit and Haida’s project, the NIGC reiterated the tribe’s alignment with all IGRA stipulations. The lease permits a variety of uses, including a lodge, restaurant, gift shop, bingo hall, and business ventures in addition to tribal governance offices.