Gambling is the modern Buffalo

With many problems created by gambling of Native Americans, in the right setting there may be just as many problems solved. It is without question that gambling has been beneficial to some Native Americans. The keyword here is some, as many Native American tribes do not experience any benefits from gambling, and some that do experience benefits have many more hardships due to gambling. Walking Antelope, the writer of the article "Gaming Provides Many Benefits to Native American Communities" argues that gambling is today's equivalent of the buffalo for the Native Americans. He argues that the buffalo "gave the plains Indians everything they needed to survive and prosper, so now in the 21st century Native Americans turn to the gaming industry as their means of survival, their way to prosperity (Antelope). The buffalo gave Indians food and a means for survival and today he argues that the gambling industry is the main way that Indians make money, which in turn feeds them and gives them survival. It is an interesting comparison to make, one that I agree with, but in turn disagree with. By that I mean I agree that the gambling industry has helped many Native Americans by giving them economic autonomy, but it has also caused many problems. It is linked to gambling addictions that has caused suicide on reservations and it has caused many Native Americans to be stereotyped as wealthy. I don't believe that the buffalo ever caused Native Americans to be suicidal. The analogy makes sense but to me it is a bit of a stretch to argue that gambling and the buffalo have had equal benefits to the Native Americans. The article points out that "Indian gaming in America has become a multi-billion dollar industry, which many Tribes have embraced as a tool to pull their people out of poverty and unemployment" (Antelope). The gaming industry is a very powerful industry that has brought much profit to the Native Americans. The question isn't if gaming has helped some tribes economy, because it clearly has, the question is does it help overall? I believe the gaming industry has been an overall help, but it still requires many tweaks. I think for people to lump all Native Americans together as rich because some have prospered from gaming is ridiculous, and is one of the problems associated with the gaming industry. Some tribes do not benefit as much from the gaming industry, and others question the moral implications. These tribes should then be given more funding for programs and welfare because they need the money. Yes some tribes are getting rich from the gambling industry, but for all their positive impact they have had, there have been negatives that need to be addressed. Suicide and gambling addiction is one of the main problems, and the casinos seem to be trying to help. Not only do Indian casinos require strict background checks on employees, but they also "scored higher than Las Vegas or Atlantic City when it came to recognizing and treating compulsive gamblers" (Antelope). The tribal casinos seem to be trying to make a difference and help solve the problems they have caused. This is a step in the right direction as they are taking their problems into their own hands. However, some tribes are not able to take their problems into their own hands and they should not be punished for this. The struggling tribes still need much economic help. Is it their fault that when the reservation locations were chosen they were chosen on the worst land which makes it very difficult for them to succeed? No, it is the fault of the American government. So I believe the American government should be responsible for helping these tribes. While gambling has had negative impacts it has become a huge part of the Native American economy and cannot be halted now, it is simply an industry that must be tweaked. Is it the same to Native Americans as the buffalo once was? Not in my opinion, but the similarities are striking.


Antelope, Walking. "Gaming Provides Many Benefits to Native American Communities." At Issue: Indian Gaming. Ed. Stuart A. Kallen. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2006. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Gale. Deerfield High School. 8 Feb. 2010 .