High Stakes: Florida Seminole Gaming and Sovereignty

by Jessica R. Cattelino

In 1979, Florida Seminoles opened the first tribally operated high-stakes bingo hall in North America. At the time, their annual budget stood at less than $2 million. By 2006, net income from gaming had surpassed $600 million. This dramatic shift from poverty to relative economic security has created tangible benefits for tribal citizens, including employment, universal health insurance, and social services. Renewed political self-governance and economic strength have reversed decades of U.S. settler-state control. At the same time, gaming has brought new dilemmas to reservation communities and triggered outside accusations that Seminoles are sacrificing their culture by embracing capitalism. In High Stakes , Jessica R. Cattelino tells the story of Seminoles’ complex efforts to maintain politically and culturally distinct values in a time of new prosperity. Cattelino presents a vivid ethnographic account of the history and consequences of Seminole gaming. Drawing on research conducted with tribal permission, she describes casino operations, chronicles the everyday life and history of the Seminole Tribe, and shares the insights of individual Seminoles. At the same time, she unravels the complex connections among cultural difference, economic power, and political rights. Through analyses of Seminole housing, museum and language programs, legal disputes, and everyday activities, she shows how Seminoles use gaming revenue to enact their sovereignty. They do so in part, she argues, through relations of interdependency with others. High Stakes compels rethinking of the conditions of indigeneity, the power of money, and the meaning of sovereignty.

Genres: Anthropology, Nonfiction, Native American, History, Business

304 pages, Paperback

First published July 14, 2008

Reviews

[Dasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cattelino challenges assumptions of authentic cultural participation in her analysis of Casinos and Seminoles.

[Brenden Gallagher · Rating 4 out of 5]

When considering books to read when researching for a screenplay, anthropology and sociology texts are underrated resources. Though I've read a number of books and newspaper articles to help with a pilot I am writing about Native American casinos, "High Stakes: Florida Seminole Gaming and Sovereignty" by Jessica R. Cattelino offered me a new perspective.

Cattelino analyzes the impact gaming has had on tribal sovereignty and Native American identity by looking at many aspects of modern Seminole life. She writes about how Seminoles live, what cars they drive, how they interact with state and local government, what they wear, what they eat, and much more to discuss how casino ownership has impacted both the tribe and public perception of the tribe.

Reading this book helped me understand the meaning and importance behind a number of concepts and symbols the recur through all Native American gaming, and gave me a deeper understanding of the topic overall.

[Maddy]

reading for my ongoing thoughts about the Seminole mascot. there’s not much in there about that, and it’s not super critical of this relationship — understandably not the focus of the book, but surprised she isn’t more skeptical abt it like I am?

[Dagezi · Rating 1 out of 5]

Seminoles think that the author should not have started every third sentence with the word Seminoles. Seminoles think that doing so is weirdly distancing and evasive, the result being a sort of post-post-structuralist version of the ethnographic present. Seminoles on a more fundamental level think that when an author promises some sort of big insight about the fungibility of money, that insight should actually exist instead of consisting of a couple of paragraphs recylcing some of the most tired and cliched aspects of the literature. Seminoles further suggest politely that if you are reading this book for any insight into money that you will be wasting your time. Finally, Seminoles insinuate that while Duke usually puts out good stuff, their clunkers clunk as much as anybody else's.

[Mostly on Storygraph · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great account of the Florida Seminole Indians that challenges perceptions of Indian people as a disappearing or primitive culture, instead suggesting that there is a more complicated and dynamic cultural production involved.

[Possum P · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tedious. I'm reluctant to say that I finished the book because technically I didn't and I'm even more reluctant to comment on its content because I can't be too sure what she actually argued. I guess I spoil myself by reading things that are only highly interesting to me?

[D · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super excellent ethnography. Totally surprising and interesting. The Seminoles break so many stereotypes of Native Americans while simultaneously maintaining a rich history. Loved it.