Tribal Leader Roundtable

Three tribal leaders share how they are advancing their tribe’s priorities through gaming, embracing innovation across their enterprises, and developing the next generation of...

Today, our highest priority is taking care of our tribal members while continuing to build a strong future for generations to come. That means investing in housing, education, healthcare, language and cultural preservation, and creating opportunities that allow our tribal members and families to thrive.

Innovation is critical in today’s world, and the gaming industry is no exception. Our industry must continue to evolve as customer expectations change, technology transforms how we do business, and new opportunities emerge.

Giving back has long been part of who we are as a people. Guided by our philosophy that what is gathered should be shared for the benefit of the community, we invest in initiatives that create opportunities for others and strengthen the places we call home.

Five tribal leaders discuss their current priorities, how innovation is shaping their gaming and hospitality strategies, and how they cultivate leadership to support long-term...

Our tribe’s top priorities are housing and economic diversification. These two goals allow us to foster growth and stability for our membership and for the next seven generations that come after us, ensuring the longevity and health of our people.

In gaming and hospitality, we believe that if you’re growing nowhere, then you’re going nowhere. In a saturated market, you have to be on the front-end of technology and innovation to keep patrons and guests engaged in your product.

Cultural preservation, growing and revitalizing our language, our museum, and library all exist because of gaming revenue. Critical community services such as the Quapaw Nation Marshal Service, Fire/EMS, Quapaw Nation Courts, and Emergency Services are almost completely funded by gaming revenue.

Our gaming enterprises contribute the lion’s share of our budget, both directly through distribution of net income and indirectly through the taxes generated at our casinos (particularly sales and liquor taxes). Without gaming, the Comanche Nation could not support the more than 50 programs that offer services to tribal members.

The gaming industry is always evolving, so we are constantly looking at ways to keep Thunder Valley competitive and relevant. We look at innovation as an important part of how we make decisions across both our gaming and hospitality operations.