1. COMMUNITY:
Welcoming Our Newest Member Tribes
NAFOA welcomes our newest members who joined in January:
- Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska
- Dry Creek Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians
- Chicken Ranch Rancheria MeWuk Indians of California
- Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community
NAFOA serves Tribal Nations through advocacy, professional development, and by convening Tribal leadership, financial professionals, policymakers, and industry partners needed for economic success.
With over 185 Member Tribes across 30+ states, NAFOA represents the full diversity of Indian Country and is committed to supporting Tribes in both immediate and long-term economic growth.
Learn More About Our Membership →
2. MUST READ:
The Prediction Market Boom is Posing an Existential Threat to American Indian Gaming
Author: Patrice H. Kunesh
The boom in online sports betting and prediction markets is disrupting Tribal government gaming—and in the process, creating an existential threat to Tribal sovereignty and economies.
Gaming in Indian Country, including sports betting, is conducted by Tribal governments under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988 (IGRA), one of the most comprehensive and complex regulatory schemes in the world. Since its passage, gaming has singularly changed the economic landscape for Tribes across the country. Having survived mass closures and layoffs during the COVID-19 pandemic, tribal gaming revenues hit a high of $43.9 billion in 2024. These revenues are the primary source of Tribal government support for essential community services.
Yet today, the rise of prediction markets such as Kalshi, Crypto.com, and Robinhood is jeopardizing that economic development model. These sites offer sports “event contracts,” which circumvent the IGRA’s federal regulatory scheme and disregard rules such as state and Tribal licensing, minimum age requirements, and consumer protections delineated in carefully negotiated compacts. If left unchecked, Tribal sovereignty and the vitality of Tribal economies may be undermined.
Source: Brookings Institution
3. WEBINAR:
Investing Insights: Macro and Markets
Wednesday, Jan. 28th, at 10:00 a.m. PT
Risk assets delivered a solid performance in 2025 despite a path marked by bouts of volatility. What’s in store for 2026?
Join Moss Adams x Baker Tilly for the next quarterly webcast installment, Investing Insights: Macro and Markets, for an insightful discussion with key members of our investment strategy team. They’ll dive into the economic data and policy predictions to help you make sense of the headlines and stay opportunity focused.
Key topics include:
- The Fed and interest rates. What will a new Fed chair mean for monetary policy?
- The economy and stock market. Will economic tailwinds continue to broaden the market?
- Thematic trends. What may be the sector leaders in 2026?
- Political uncertainty and election cycles. Should we expect a return to volatility?
Source: Moss Adams x Baker Tilly
4. ON-DEMAND:
Recording of “Overview of Treasury Final Rules: General Welfare Exclusion & Wholly Owned Tribal Entities”
The recording is now available for Overview of Treasury Final Rules: General Welfare Exclusion & Wholly Owned Tribal Entities.
This webinar examines the finalization of Treasury rules on the General Welfare Exclusion Act and Tribal Wholly-Owned Corporate Entities, announced December 15, 2025. These regulations promise to transform Tribal economic development and provide long-awaited tax certainty for Indian Country. Speakers from the U.S. Department of the Treasury break down the key provisions of each regulation and explore their practical implications for Tribal finance operations and economic development strategies, including implementation considerations such as IRS training requirements and audit suspensions.
5. JOB OPPORTUNITY:
Grants Development Manager, Pauma Band of Mission Indians
This is a highly responsible position requiring a unique skill set pertaining to the breadth of grant management functions.
The Grants Development Manager is responsible for identifying, securing, and managing grant funding to support the Tribal Government programs and initiatives. This role involves researching potential funding sources, writing grant proposals, and ensuring compliance with grant requirements. The Grants Development Manager will work closely with various departments to align grant opportunities with Tribe goals.
