One Size Does Not Fit 575 Tribal Nations: Different Nations. Different Needs.

Author: Ashlee Olujic, Director of Tribal and Community Engagement at ICRG

There are 575 federally recognized Tribal Nations in the United States. 575.

That number alone should probably tell us something important: there is no single “Tribal approach” to responsible gaming.

If you have visited one Tribal Nation, congratulations. You have visited exactly one Tribal Nation. I say that with a little humor, but it is something I find myself explaining often in my work. Tribal communities are still regularly talked about as though we are one population with the same cultures, challenges, resources, and priorities.

We are not.

Tribal Nations are sovereign governments, each with their own histories, cultures, languages, economies, geographic realities, gaming operations, and community priorities.

Spoiler alert: we did not all get together and agree on one way to do things.

And honestly, would any group of 575 governments?

Different Communities. Different Realities.

Think about the differences just within Tribal gaming.

A rural casino serving a local population has very different needs than a large destination resort welcoming thousands of visitors. One Nation may have a strong behavioral health infrastructure and established prevention programs, while another may have community members traveling hours to access specialized services.

Some Nations operate sportsbooks. Some are navigating mobile wagering and emerging products. Some are deeply concerned about youth exposure. Others may be focused on employee education, access to treatment, prevention messaging, or understanding gambling behaviors within their communities.

Even the words we use around wellness, prevention, family, and asking for help can carry different meanings from one community to another.

So when we talk about culturally relevant Tribal responsible gaming, we have to start there.

And no, culturally relevant does not mean taking the same brochure, adding a feather to it, and calling it the “Tribal version.”

Please don’t. We have enough feathers.

Start by Asking Questions

True cultural relevance is actually much less flashy: It starts by asking questions.

• What are Tribal leaders hearing from their communities? 
• What are casino employees seeing? 
• What are parents concerned about? 
• What are young people being exposed to? 
• What resources already exist? 
• Where are the gaps?

And perhaps the most important question: What does this Nation want to know?

That question matters tremendously when we talk about research.

Community-Focused Tribal Gambling Research

There are still significant gaps in Tribal-specific gambling research and data. We need more research, absolutely. But “more research” should not mean developing a question somewhere else and then showing up in a Tribal community looking for people to study.

That is research in a community. Community-driven research is research with a community.

There is a big difference.

One Nation may want to understand youth exposure to sports betting, prediction markets, or other emerging forms of wagering. Another may want to know whether its current responsible gaming messaging is actually reaching community members. Another may be focused on employee training, barriers to seeking help, or strengthening prevention.

Different Nations. Different questions. Different priorities.

We Don’t Need 575 Wheels

Now, before anyone pictures creating 575 completely different responsible gaming programs and develops an immediate stress headache, that is not what I am suggesting.

We do not need to reinvent the wheel 575 times.

There is tremendous value in sharing research, evidence-based practices, training resources, and lessons learned across Indian Country. If something is working, let’s talk about it. Let’s learn from one another. Let’s build on good work instead of starting over every time.

But sharing is different from standardizing.

• The research can be shared.
• The tools can be shared.
• The science can be shared.

Simple Tribal Community Investments 

How those things come to life in a community should be shaped by the community.

Sometimes that might mean incorporating language, cultural teachings, family systems, traditional approaches to wellness, or community events. Sometimes it might mean changing where information is delivered or who delivers it.

And sometimes it might mean hearing, “Actually, that’s not what we need.”

That answer matters, too.

Relationships Before Resources

The longer I work in responsible gaming, the more I believe some of our best work does not begin with a brochure, a training module, a research proposal, or a beautifully designed PowerPoint. And as someone who loves a good PowerPoint, I do not say that lightly.

It begins with relationships.

It begins with showing up. Listening. Asking better questions. Being willing to hear the answer. And understanding that Tribal Nations are not simply another demographic we are trying to “reach.”

They are sovereign Nations and partners in this work.

There are 575 federally recognized Tribal Nations in the United States. That does not mean we need 575 versions of everything. But it absolutely means we should stop expecting one version of anything to work everywhere.

Different Nations. Different needs.

And our responsible gaming work should be smart enough, flexible enough, and respectful enough to recognize the difference.