About the Wind River Casino
Gambling has ancient roots in Native American cultures and with the Northern Arapaho culture in particular, according to one tribal member “sacred and social gambling has been practiced by our people for centuries”. The momentum of the Northern Arapaho tribe into tribal gaming reflects the trend throughout Indian Country that tribal gaming is the fastest growing source of economic activity on reservations in the United States.
The 789 Bingo and Casino operation, which is tribally owned, was established in 1988. The original 789 Bingo and Casino building provides an account of past economic failures of the tribe. The building was originally built for the purpose of loading docks for trucks in the late 1970s, which failed; and then in the early 1980's the tribe remodeled the building for a sewing factory, which also failed.
In August 2001 the tribal council created the Northern Arapaho Gaming Agency, and appointed three gaming commissioners to serve on it. This agency was created in order for the tribe to begin the process of offering casino style gaming. The agency is responsible for regulatory oversight, safe, lawful, and honest operation of the tribe's class II and class III gaming operations and activities on the reservation. It promulgates, reviews, and revises, rules, and procedures to govern, facilitate, and protect the gaming assets of the tribe, license holders, patrons, and environment. It has the authority to promulgate, review, revise, and enforce technical standards and rules of each game of chance operated by the tribe. It also deals with a myriad of law enforcement agencies which include the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC), Riverton Police Department, Wind River Police Department, Lander Police Department, Fremont County Sheriff's Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and other agencies as needed.
The 789 Bingo and Casino was remodeled more than once to accommodate the growing needs of its class II and Class III demands and was called the Wind River Casino. While table games and more slots were introduced, a new building was being built to be become the new home for Wind River Casino. On April 29th of 2008, the new building was opened and the former location was named 789 Smoke Shop & Casino. The new Wind River Casino boasts over 750 Class III Vegas-Style slots, nine table games and now has a restaurant, cafe' an espresso bar and a gift shop.
The Economic Development of
Wind River Casino
The economic impact of the Wind River Casino is over 90 million dollars annually according to a newly released report. This money is the accumulative increase resulting solely from the Wind River Casinos being in Fremont County.
The Wind River Casino commissioned the independent study by GVA Marquette Advisors as a follow-up on an initial study conducted in 2001. The first study estimated the potential economic benefit to the region to be at nearly 36.5 million dollars per year. The earlier estimate fell short of the actual total impact which proved to be about two and half times more than that.
Key conclusions of the 2008 study include the following economic impacts:
Total positive economic impact: $90 million
Employment: over 500 jobs as of November 2008
Total annual sales tax revenue added to Fremont County: $800,000
Total annual sales tax revenue added to the State: $1,600,000
The most important impact, according to CEO Jim Conrad, is the 504 employees, which makes the casinos the second largest employer for Fremont County.
Conrad also says that tourism to the Wind River Valley is on the upswing because of the marketing of the Northern Arapaho Experience. He says that the casino is striving to be the third most visited place in the state and this will help other businesses in the area as well.
“We appreciate all the local support,” Conrad said, “and cooperation in helping us in our growth and success.”
The Arapaho Business Council agree. Co-Chairman Norman Willow said that the viability of the tribe and Fremont County are linked together and that the casinos are filling in a gap, creating an economic boost to the surrounding area.
This economic boost extends beyond monetary value, according to Chairman Harvey Spoonhunter. The 90 million dollars has not only helped new employees become self-sufficient but has allowed the Arapaho tribe to provide funding for such things as education to help their youth build a better future for all.
