Indian Casinos Enjoy a Better Hand in Gambling Operations

While casinos on Native American lands face many of the same types of risks as other gaming facilities, there are some notable differences—including ones that result in lower losses.

Tribal courts may structure Workers' Compensation laws differently from state parameters. For example, some casino managers on Indian lands have opened on-site clinics to offer care for minor on-the-job injuries, reducing the total cost of risk from Workers' Comp, says John Bullock, president of Willis of Mississippi.

And the fact that claims litigated against tribes are settled in their courts also has a generally positive effect on losses. “Their loss results are better than those of commercial casinos with respect to General Liability exposures—they have better loss ratios than what you may see in the commercial world,” notes Aon Managing Director Craig Bowlus.

Travelers Public Sector Services President Paula Bernal says: “We encourage tribal leaders to establish both tort and Workers' Comp ordinances and make them applicable to both government-service operations and their business enterprises, including casinos. By setting such ground rules, tribes can better protect and promote sovereignty and can drive their own destiny.”