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December 10, 2008

Cherokee Chat

Problem gambling

By Cara Cowan-Watts, Cherokee Nation Tribal Councilor District 7, Will Rogers

December 10, 2008 — Cherokee Nation has provided the State of Oklahoma millions of dollars under the Oklahoma Tribal Gaming Compact. In the past four years, Cherokee Nation has donated more than $50.5M to State coffers.

In addition to the millions of dollars of gaming revenue shared with the state, Cherokee Nation Enterprises has paid for 29 people to receive state certification for counseling problem gamblers, partnered with the Oklahoma Association for Problem and Compulsive Gambling (OAPCG, http://www.oapcg.org/) and given tens of thousands of dollars directly to organizations to help create problem gambling solutions.

To address problem gambling at our facilities, signage directing problem gamblers to the 24-hour National Problem Gambling Hotline, 1-800-522-4700, are always being reviewed for effectiveness and brochure placement throughout Cherokee gaming facilities.

If a person has a gambling addiction, they may self-exclude themselves for one-year, five-years or a lifetime. To self-exclude, they complete a form, have their picture taken for the files and will not be able to receive winnings should they get past security after self-excluding. To self-exclude, contact security at any of our gaming facilities.

All CNE staff are provided problem gambling training at orientation and gaming staff are given annual refresher courses. Training includes identifing signs of gambling addiction.

The bottom line is CNE and the Cherokee Nation take gambling addiction very seriously.

CNE gaming facilities are a fun entertainment venue which generates revenue for Tribal programs and services as well as donations to local charities and governments. If someone wants to gamble one evening rather than go to a movie, they should have a budget for entertainment. If folks can not stick to an affordable budget, we want to be part of the solution in helping them address their addiction.

To understand the compact for yourself and not rely on my response or others, go to http://www.oscn.net for Oklahoma Statute Title 3A, Section 281. The manual for implementation of the Tribal Compact is at http://www.ok.gov/OGC/documents/Procedures%20Manual1.pdf.

If you have questions or concerns, please write me at P.O. Box 2922, Claremore, OK 74018 or cara@caracowan.com.

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