Ernie Stevens Jr., longtime Indian Gaming Association chair, passes away
Stevens served as chairman of the IGA for 24 years.
US.- Ernest L. “Ernie” Stevens Jr., chairman of the Indian Gaming Association (IGA), has died aged 66. Stevens Jr passed away suddenly on Friday, September 26, at the Oneida Nation in Wisconsin.
In April, Stevens was re-elected to a thirteenth consecutive term as IGA chairman, marking 24 years in the role. During his tenure as IGA chairman, Indian gaming expanded from $11bn in revenues in 2000 to a record $43.9bn in 2024, making tribal government gaming the largest segment of the US gaming industry.
Stevens Jr served as an elected councilman for the Oneida Nation in Wisconsin from 1993 to 1999 and was the first vice president of the Congress of American Indians (NCAI). He also held board positions with the Center for American Indian Enterprise Development (NCAIED), the Nike N7 Foundation Board, the Center for Native American Youth (CNAY) and the Native American Advisory Board for the Boys and Girls Club of America (BGCA). He was inducted into the American Gaming Association’s Gaming Hall of Fame in 2015 and the National Indian Athletic Association Hall of Fame in 2008.
In a statement issued yesterday (September 29), the IGA said: “A proud citizen of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin, chairman Stevens was widely respected as a national leader, bridge-builder, and advocate for Indian Country. His tireless work in Washington, D.C., elevated the IGA into one of the most effective voices on Capitol Hill. Stevens fiercely defended the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act and worked closely with tribal leaders, Congress, and federal agencies to ensure tribal governments had the resources to fund schools, build hospitals, preserve culture, and create jobs for their communities.”
Jason Giles, executive director of IGA, said: “Chairman Stevens’ passing leaves a void that will be felt across all of Indian Country. He was not only our chairman, but a mentor, a friend, and a warrior for tribal sovereignty. His legacy will continue to guide our work for generations to come.”
