Laguna Development Corp. Becomes First Tribal Member of Anti-iGaming Coalition
The Laguna Development Corporation (LDC), an enterprise owned by the Pueblo of Laguna in New Mexico, has joined the National Association Against iGaming (NAAiG). LDC is the first Native American operator to join the growing coalition, adding a powerful tribal voice to the fight against the expansion of online casinos.
A “Historic Milestone” for the Coalition
The addition of LDC is being hailed as a “historic milestone” by NAAiG. The coalition was formed in February 2025 by a group of land-based casino operators, including Churchill Downs and The Cordish Companies, to oppose the legalization of iGaming.
“As the first Native American operator to join us, LDC brings a vital and authentic voice to this fight,” said Mark Stewart, an NAAiG board member and general counsel for The Cordish Companies.
“One that understands firsthand how iGaming threatens more than jobs and revenue. It puts tribal sovereignty, cultural heritage and decades of hard-won investment in Native communities at risk.”
Protecting Tribal Sovereignty and Economic Development
LDC’s decision to join NAAiG is rooted in its mission to protect the economic well-being and sovereign rights of the Pueblo of Laguna. The corporation’s leadership fears that the convenience of online casinos will cannibalize revenue from their brick-and-mortar properties, undermining the economic self-sufficiency the tribe has built through gaming.
“As a tribal enterprise, our success is directly tied to the communities we serve and the jobs we support,” said Maxine Velasquez, President and CEO of LDC.
“We are joining NAAiG to make it clear that the voices and sovereign rights of tribal nations must not be ignored… iGaming poses a threat to more than just our revenue. It threatens the very foundation of tribal economic development that empowers our communities.”
A Growing and Diverse Coalition
LDC is the latest in a series of diverse organizations to join NAAiG. The coalition’s membership now includes not only commercial and tribal casino operators but also several municipalities, labor unions, and minority business associations.
The group has recently welcomed Gilpin County, Colorado, and the cities of Black Hawk, Central City, and Cripple Creek. Labor unions like UFCW Local 27 and SEATU have also joined, along with commercial operator Jack Entertainment and the real estate investment trust Gaming and Leisure Properties Inc.
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