In an earlier blog post I wrote about billionaire casino moguls, like Lyle Berman, whose enterprises broker the deals to gain Federal recognition for Native American Tribes and then work as middle-men between the tribes and the Federal government to hold land in trust in order to build “Native American” casinos. (See my post dated August 12, 2009)
Well now we can add a “middle-woman,” Marian Ilitch, to the list. According to an October 19, 2010, article on Crain’s Detroit Business website, Marian Ilitch has teamed up with the Southampton, New York based Shinnecock Native Americans in a new casino deal.
As I wrote in a comment on Crain’s website, it continues to boggle my mind that people like Marian Ilitch and other casino moguls, really wealthy people, are looking to expand gambling throughout this country under the guise of helping bring economic development to the less fortunate among us, this time to a community of 1200 Native Americans.
Gambling is not a philanthropic enterprise; The only real winners in the casino industry are billionaire owners, operators, and middle-men-and-women like Marian Ilitch and Company.
Sandra Adell, Author, CONFESSIONS OF A SLOT MACHINE QUEEN: A MEMOIR
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A Black Woman's Reflections on Casino Gambling 