TRIBAL LEADER ABOUT WHY THEY SAY THE MONEY ISN’T ENOUGH. (MILES) “I SPOKE TO THE LEADER OF THE MI’MAK TRIBE AND HE TELLS ME THAT SPORTS BETTING IS GOING TO BENEFIT HIS PEOPLE, BUT KNOWS THAT IT’S ONLY THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG FOR THE HELP THEY NEED.” (CHIEF EDWARD PETER PAUL) “IT’S BEEN A IT’S BEEN A LONG TIME COMING. …THIS IS GOOD FOR, YOU KNOW, OUR OUR TRIBAL COUNCIL AND OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS. THIS BRINGS, YOU KNOW, MUCH NEEDED RELIEF TO US. CHIEF EDWARD PETER PAUL SAYS THAT WHEN TALKS BEGAN A YEAR AGO- -NATIVE TRIBES WEREN’T AT THE TOP OF MIND. THE MIKMACK NATION HAS AN AGREEMENT WITH CEASARS SPORTSBOOK, THE SAME AS TWO OTHER TRIBES. 60 PERCENT OF THE FUNDS MADE FROM CEASARS ARE SPLIT EVENLY AMONG THE THREE NATIONS. (CHIEF EDWARD PETER PAUL) “THE STATE REALLY WASN’T, YOU KNOW, OPEN TO GIVING THE TRIBES ANY TYPE OF GAMING. SO THIS WAS KIND OF A CONCESSION IN A WAY.” HE SAYS THE FUNDS ARE GOING TO HELP BUY FUEL FOR THE WINTER, BUILD HOUSES AND MORE. (CHIEF EDWARD PETER PAUL) “YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES WE NEED MATCHING FUNDS TO SCORE HIGHER ON A GRANT. SOME OF THESE FUNDS WILL BE DIRECTED TOWARDS THAT. SOME WILL BE DIRECTED DIRECTLY TOWARDS THE COMMUNITY.” DESPITE A GOOD OPENING WEEKEND. HE SAYS THE MONEY ROLLING IN WILL EASE THIER SITUATION BUT THAT MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE. (CHIEF EDWARD PETER PAUL) “THAT’S FOUR DAYS A MONTH IT’LL BE LIKE THAT.AND THEN WHAT IS THAT REVENUE AND THEN YOU GET TO SPREAD THAT OUT AMONGST EVERYBODY. SO REALLY, THE SPORTS BETTING ISN’T GOING TO BE A HUGE MONEYMAKER FOR, YOU KNOW, OUR NATION.” “IT’S NOT IT’S NOT SO MUCH LIFE CHANGING REVENUE. YOU KNOW, LIKE IF WE YOU KNOW, I
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Chief of Mi’kmaq Nation says the funds from sports betting aren’t enough
It’s only the tip of the iceberg for the help they need.
Updated: 4:43 PM EST Nov 14, 2023
“It’s been a long time coming. This is good for our tribal council and our community members. This brings, you know, much-needed relief to us,” Chief Edward Peter Paul said that when talks began a year ago, native tribes weren’t at the top of mind. “The state really wasn’t open to giving the tribes any type of gaming. So this was kind of a concession in a way,” the chief said.The Mi’kmaq nation has an agreement with Caesars Sportsbook, the same as two other tribes. Roughly 60% of the funds made from Caesars are split evenly among the three nations. He says the funds are going to help buy fuel for the winter, build houses and more. Despite a good opening weekend, Chief Peter Paul says the money rolling in will ease their situation but that more needs to be done. “That’s four days a month it’ll be like that. Then it’s that revenue and then you get to spread that out amongst everybody. So, really, the sports betting isn’t going to be a huge moneymaker for, you know, our nation. It’s not it’s not so much life-changing revenue. you know, like if we, you know, if we were to open a full-blown casino,” Peter Paul said.
“It’s been a long time coming. This is good for our tribal council and our community members. This brings, you know, much-needed relief to us,” Chief Edward Peter Paul said that when talks began a year ago, native tribes weren’t at the top of mind.
“The state really wasn’t open to giving the tribes any type of gaming. So this was kind of a concession in a way,” the chief said.
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The Mi’kmaq nation has an agreement with Caesars Sportsbook, the same as two other tribes. Roughly 60% of the funds made from Caesars are split evenly among the three nations. He says the funds are going to help buy fuel for the winter, build houses and more.
Despite a good opening weekend, Chief Peter Paul says the money rolling in will ease their situation but that more needs to be done.
“That’s four days a month it’ll be like that. Then it’s that revenue and then you get to spread that out amongst everybody. So, really, the sports betting isn’t going to be a huge moneymaker for, you know, our nation. It’s not it’s not so much life-changing revenue. you know, like if we, you know, if we were to open a full-blown casino,” Peter Paul said.