Tlingit and Haida Plans Gambling Addiction Support Alongside Casino
Expertise: US Gaming, European Gaming Industry, iGaming
LISTEN TO THIS ARTICLE:
JUNEAU, Alaska: Tlingit and Haida is planning gambling addiction support alongside the opening of Two Coppers Casino.
The effort gives Juneau’s first casino a responsible gambling angle as the tribal gaming project moves from soft opening to formal launch.
The Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska held a ceremonial grand opening for Two Coppers Casino on Douglas Island on Wednesday. The event followed a soft opening of the property last month.
Related: Texas Town to Become Home to New Tribal Casino
Behavioral Health Plan Being Developed
Tlingit and Haida President Chalyee Éesh Richard Peterson told attendees that the tribe wanted the casino to benefit Juneau rather than harm the community. He said the tribe was making a commitment that the project would not become a “poison pill” for the area.
Peterson said Tlingit and Haida is also working on programs that could intervene when community members show signs of gambling-related harm. The programs are being developed through the tribe’s behavioral health department.
In an interview after the ceremony, Peterson said the plan would identify people who may be spending too much time or money at the casino. He said those people could be encouraged to enter a behavioral health program and could be temporarily kept from returning to Two Coppers.
People identified through that process would have to complete a program before returning to the casino. The tribe expects to roll out more details in the coming weeks.
Casino Opens Amid Legal Questions
Two Coppers Casino is located on Douglas Island, on land leased to Tlingit and Haida by members of the George family. The property is on Fish Creek Road, also known as Eaglecrest Road.
The casino may still face legal questions. Last fall, the U.S. Department of the Interior withdrew a legal opinion that had given Alaska tribes jurisdiction over land allotments owned by Alaska Native families.
Peterson previously said Tlingit and Haida’s lawyers believe the federal reversal should not affect the tribe’s ability to operate the Juneau casino. However, the issue remains a point of uncertainty around tribal gaming authority in Alaska.
Some members of the George family have also opposed the casino. The Juneau Independent reported last month that family members who own the land wrote letters to the tribe citing public safety concerns and questions about the project’s legality.
Responsible Gambling
Arizona Expands Problem Gambling Funding as Gaming Regulator Continues
Jul 01, 2026
Responsible Gambling
Virginia Gambling Treatment Network Highlights Wider U.S. Addiction Support Gap
Jun 23, 2026Family Support Also Present
The opposition has not been unanimous within the George family. Other family members attended the grand opening and spoke in support of the casino.
Travis Woodbury, a grandson of Lydia and Jimmy George, said family efforts to claim and clear the land helped make the casino possible. He said he was happy to see the project become a reality after a long process.
The official opening places Two Coppers Casino at the center of several overlapping issues: tribal economic development, legal authority over Alaska Native allotments and local concerns about gambling harm.
For Tlingit and Haida, the next test will be how quickly the promised behavioral health plan is implemented. The tribe is positioning the casino as a community benefit, but its addiction prevention and intervention efforts will be central to how the project is received in Juneau.
RELATED TOPICS: Responsible Gambling
