CASINO SERVICES FOR INDIAN NATIONS
Gaming in Indian Nations, the fastest growing segment of the entire casino industry, entered the new millennium with accelerating growth in existing and new jurisdictions. Competition among all forms of casinos has increased significantly and Indian casinos are now successfully competing against riverboats and other non-Indian casinos. Foxwoods, Mohegan Sun, Soaring Eagle and Turning Stone Casinos are among the most successful and profitable casinos in the United States. In some states, Indian Nations are still attempting to negotiate or renegotiate compacts. Additionally, some Indian Nations are evaluating whether to renew casino management agreements or to self-operate their casinos.
Cayuga’s Casino Gaming Group offers services which assist Indian Nations in planning, developing and improving casino operations. As casino markets mature, those casinos which diversify and become broader entertainment resorts will have the best chances of achieving long-term success.
Cayuga is experienced in every aspect of assisting Indian Nations with casino gaming. Our consultants have worked with Indian gaming commissions and tribal councils on a wide range of development, operational and regulatory issues, offering advice on maximizing return on investment as well as maintaining control of operations, while preserving the tribes’ unique culture and way of life.
Our services include:
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Evaluating gaming operations
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Performing operational and compliance audits, both front-of-the-house and back-of-the-house
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Providing accurate financial information in order to assist tribal councils with decisions regarding gaming operations
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Assisting with the development of effective marketing plans
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Developing comprehensive programs for the recruitment and retention of staff
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Performing casino internal audit functions including Title 31 (The Bank Secrecy Act)
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Evaluating, developing and upgrading all aspects of casino controls
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Preparing compliance manuals for use by gaming commission personnel
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Rewriting tribal gaming ordinances
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Budgeting for gaming commissions
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Conducting a wide variety of seminars and workshops for casino employees and supervisors, and for members of tribal councils and gaming commissions
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Developing and refining management reporting systems
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Developing accounting and financial reporting procedures
Additionally, when tribal councils decide to add hotel, restaurant and other resort facilities to their casino operations, Cayuga conducts independent feasibility studies, assists in identifying potential hotel and/or restaurant companies and prepares business plans and Requests For Proposals to attract potential hotel, resort and/or restaurant operators.
In summary, the services offered by Cayuga’s Casino Gaming Group assist Indian Nations in developing, expanding and improving their casinos, and in achieving targeted economic development.
Advisory Members
The following members are available through Cayuga to provide a full range of consulting services for Indian tribal casinos.
John
Bowen (Las Vegas, NV)
Ph.D. in marketing, teaching Casino Marketing and Customer Development
Strategies for the Casino and Gaming Industry at the University
of Nevada at Las Vegas, specializing in market research and positioning;
public relations; marketing of gaming operations; player development
programs; customer satisfaction audits and surveys; executive development
courses and seminars; and development of distribution systems to
attract desired market segments.
John
Brubaker (Boynton Beach,
FL)
A highly skilled and widely recognized casino surveillance
and security professional with over 20 years hands-on experience
in land-based casinos, riverboat operations and cruise ships. His
surveillance investigations have uncovered cheating, theft and scams,
both internal and external, in casinos in the Bahamas, Puerto Rico,
Peru, Canada and the U.S., including Indian tribal casinos. Has
trained hundreds of casino surveillance and security managers and
staff through classroom and on-the-job training covering all aspects
of games protection, asset protection, and surveillance techniques
and procedures.
Bill
Callnin (Virginia Beach,
VA)
Cayuga Chairman and
Managing Director, with over 25 years experience in senior executive
positions and consulting with casino developers and operators in
the U.S., the Caribbean, Europe and Australia. Has consulted in
Indian tribal casino operations in Washington State, Minnesota,
New York and Oklahoma.
George
Carmona (Atlantic City,
NJ)
Over 23 years’ experience in senior casino executive positions
and as a consultant for casino developers and operators. Operational,
financial and audit responsibilities with casinos in the U.S. and
the Caribbean, with broad experience in development, regulatory
approval and implementation of systems of accounting and internal
control. Consultant for casinos in Yugoslavia, the Bahamas and for
Indian tribal casino operations in the Western U.S.
Scott Cooper (Palm Desert, CA)
Senior executive in the gaming industry, with 30 years experience in land-based, riverboat, racino and Native American casinos, from General Manager for individual properties, to COO providing multi-property oversight. Particular expertise in: casino start-up and expansion projects, having opened nine start-up operations in six jurisdictions; improving underperforming casino profit margins; and growing property revenue market share. Expertise includes all aspects of casino operations, including management performance evaluations, marketing, staffing, turnaround transitional management, and strategic planning.
Francis
Lame Bull (Wapato, WA)
Highly experienced attorney in gaming law and regulation with over
30 years in federal Indian law; has represented several Indian tribes
and Commonwealth municipalities in Micronesia in casino development
and operations. Uniquely qualified to advise and represent Indian
tribes in all facets of Indian casino development, operation and
regulation. Created and established Tribal Gaming Agencies for Class
II and Class III gaming protection pursuant to Tribal Gaming Ordinances,
the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, and Tribal/ State Gaming Compacts
for Class III gaming. Supervised compliance in the following gaming
functions: table games, slots, surveillance, security, hard and
soft count, accounting and marketing.
Chris
LeSourd (Seattle, WA)
Over 35 years experience as an executive and consultant in the foodservice
industry, providing financial evaluations, market and operational
analyses, concept and project development, and strategic repositioning,
litigation support and expert witness testimony. Provided conceptual
planning and development of the food and beverage facilities for
the Tulalip Indian Tribe Casino Complex in Washington State. Designed,
documented and installed a comprehensive food cost control system
for Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.
