Alaska: Tlingit and Haida Tribes move ahead with Douglas Island gaming hall following federal approval

A 20-acre plot on Douglas Island could soon become the site of a new gaming hall following federal approval granted to the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska. The National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) has authorized the tribe’s amended gaming ordinance, allowing Class II gaming activities to proceed on the Jimmie George Allotment, restricted Native land leased to the tribe near Fish Creek Road.

The land, situated not far from Juneau’s Eaglecrest Ski Area, has long attracted speculation. Though cleared in 2018 and intermittently used for seasonal fireworks sales, no significant development had taken shape until recently. In August, the site displayed “No Trespassing” and construction signs, with excavators and building materials scattered across the gravel area and a structure visibly underway.

In an email to KTOO, Tlingit and Haida spokesperson Dixie Hutchinson confirmed that the tribe is in the process of constructing a gaming facility. She stated that the initiative “aligns with Tlingit and Haida’s broader mission to expand revenue-generating opportunities that support essential programs and services for tribal citizens.”

The tribe plans to offer Class II gaming, which includes pull tabs, bingo, and slot-style electronic machines. Such facilities are legal under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) when operated on qualifying lands by federally recognized tribes with jurisdiction. Table games like poker and blackjack are excluded under Class II authorization.

The NIGC’s approval, communicated in a letter to Tlingit and Haida President Chalyee Éesh Richard Peterson by Acting Chair Sharon M. Avery, confirms that the tribe’s ordinance and plans meet federal legal standards.

The site-specific ruling applies to the Jimmie George Allotment, part of a broader 220-acre land exchange finalized in 2003. The parcel is under long-term lease to the tribe for up to 50 years and remains federally restricted against sale or taxation.

For decades, Alaska tribes have struggled to establish casino-style operations due to the federal and state position that Native allotments in the state were not “Indian country,” making them ineligible under IGRA. This interpretation blocked prior attempts, including a 2020 request by Tlingit and Haida, which was denied under the Trump administration.

A 2024 opinion by the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Solicitor clarified that Alaska Native allotments can be treated as Indian country if tribes exercise substantial jurisdiction and governmental functions. The opinion laid the groundwork for projects like this one and another in Anchorage.

Professor Michelle Jaagal Aat Demmert of the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ tribal governance department, who also served as the Tlingit and Haida’s former chief justice, told KTOO that the decision has major implications. She noted that gaming plays a crucial governmental role for many tribes. 

“People look at it that it’s just this big money-making operation, but it’s so much more than that,” she said. “It’s an opportunity to make money and an opportunity to put that right back into your governmental system, to provide essential services to your citizens.”

Although Hutchinson did not provide a projected opening date for the Douglas Island facility, she emphasized that the project remains in its early development stages. She said the gaming hall’s earnings would be reinvested into programs serving tribal citizens.

The Douglas Island facility follows a similar move by the Native Village of Eklutna, which in February opened a gaming hall near Anchorage on a Native allotment. That opening triggered legal opposition from the State of Alaska, which argues that Native allotments are not exempt from state oversight. That lawsuit remains pending.

Despite the legal uncertainty, the federal government has so far maintained its revised stance. In the letter approving Tlingit and Haida’s site, the NIGC affirmed the tribe’s compliance with all IGRA requirements. The lease allows for the development of a range of uses, including a lodge, restaurant, gift shop, bingo hall, and business enterprises alongside tribal government offices.