Rama Five Years Later: A Discussion on the Advantages and Pitfalls of Aboriginal Gaming in Ontario — An Interview with Casino-Rama Director of First Nations Affairs, Kevin Wassegijig [Journal of Aboriginal Economic Development, JAED]

It was decided that an interview be conducted with Casino-Rama Director of First Nations Affairs, Kevin Wassegijig, who spoke with the Journal of Aboriginal Economic Development regarding the success of Casino-Rama while outlining some of the challenges casino manage- ment must deal with in upcoming years. Aboriginal gaming in Canada is a recent development, and the success of Casino-Rama has come as a pleasant surprise to many. At the same time, however, the success of Casino-Rama has generated concerns that have unwittingly resulted from their own success. Issues such as improving existing Casino-Rama facilities and the anticipated market saturation resulting from Casino- Rama's success which is expected to become pronounced in light of the Ontario government and neighbouring First Nations and non-Aboriginal communities seriously beginning to consider gaming as an economic development tool. These issues were dealt with during the following phone interview, which was conducted 4 October 2001.