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Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Casino Payout is Up 12%

An improvement in the revenues by the casinos upped the year-end per capita payouts to about 12% for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Last December 1st, each member of the tribe, which is comprised of about 13,500 members above the age of 18, received a $4,699 check from revenues at the Harrah's Cherokee Casino. Per capita for members of the tribe below the age of 18 was directed to their trust accounts.

This money has major significance since its reach goes beyond the reservation of the Cherokee Indians. This increase means more cash for the economy of Western North Carolina as business owners enter a critical period in their holiday sales. According to Jennifer Jenkins, automobile salesperson at Ken Wilson Ford, located in Canton, almost 75% of the customers are Cherokee Indians. She added that the money given to the tribe has really changed their lives.

The checks were issued beginning after the Cherokee Indian's casino opened back in 1995. It was only around $595, but after Harrah's Entertainment took over management of the casino in 1997, the amount increased. Checks to the tribe members are distributed twice a year. Jenkins further stated that the casino became the main reason why the Cherokee Indian Tribe is currently enjoying a stable economic condition. With the money earned from the casino, they were able to improve their conditions and become self-sufficient. The Cherokee Indian's Casino offers many kinds of casino gambling, including video gambling and is considered to be the largest casino west of Ashville. It is currently owned by the tribe and operated by Harrah's Entertainment.

Thanks to the casino, the tribe earns an estimated $155 million annually. Some of the money also goes to the Cherokee Preservation Foundation, a charitable organization, which gives grants in the region. Amy Roberts, Manager of The Badcock Furniture Store in Waynesville, said that over the past 20 years of conducting business in the region, they have seen what improved per capita checks can do for the economy. According to Roberts, although the Cherokee Indians have always been excellent customers, this development is advantageous for the businesses in the region due to the fact that the spending capability of their customers has now increased.

The stores located at the Qualla Boundary, like the Radio Shack in Cherokee, have also benefited from the per capita raise. Curt Wildcatt, Manager of the Radio Shack, said that it is like experiencing the Christmas Season twice a year. According to Wildcatt, a member of the Cherokee Indian Tribe, the cash helps them pay for their basic needs and afford things that they would have been incapable of buying a few years ago. The Tribe's health care and education system have also greatly improved by the money. One of the customers of the Radio Shack, Michelle Bradley, a single mother, commented that the money that she receives twice a year helps a lot with her bills and is one of the main reasons why she and her children will have a good Christmas.

 

Tuesday, January 23 , 2007
Gerald Kernighan