Indian Gaming Association appoints David Bean as chairman
Bean has assumed the role for the remainder of the late Ernie Stevens Jr’s term.
US.- The Indian Gaming Association (IGA) has announced that vice chairman David Z. Bean has assumed the role of chairman for the remainder of the term left by Ernie Stevens, Jr., who passed away suddenly on September 26. The appointment follows bylaws that say the vice chairman shall fill any vacancy in the chairperson’s office for the unexpired term.
Stevens had been re-elected to a thirteenth consecutive term as IGA chairman in April, marking 24 years in the role. The IGA said his “leadership, compassion, and commitment to tribal sovereignty shaped the modern landscape of tribal government gaming.”
The Indian Gaming Association will hold elections for vice chairman and treasurer positions at its Annual Tradeshow and Convention in March 2026. Until then, chairman Bean will continue leading IGA. A longtime tribal leader from the Puyallup Tribe of Indians, he has served in various leadership roles within IGA, first as a regional representative for the Northwest and then as vice chairman.
The IGA said that under his leadership, the association will “continue to address pressing issues, including illegal online gaming operations, federal programme funding, and the ongoing need to strengthen tribal consultation and treaty obligations across federal agencies.” Indian gaming has 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.
Jason Giles, executive director of the IGA, stated: “Chairman Bean has been a steady and respected voice in Indian Country for many years. He embodies the same values of unity, humility, and persistence that defined Chairman Stevens’ leadership. Under his guidance, IGA will continue to build on Ernie’s legacy—protecting tribal sovereignty, promoting responsible gaming policy, and ensuring that tribal governments remain strong partners in the national dialogue on economic development.”
Bean said: “It has only been a short period since we laid our former chairman and my friend, Ernie Stevens, Jr., to rest. The outpouring of support and sympathy from Indian Country has truly touched his family and all of us who worked daily with him. Ernie always reminded us that ‘there is more work to do, let’s get up tomorrow and get at it.’ As the new chairman of IGA, I intend to continue on the path that Ernie laid down for over twenty years, carrying forward his dedication to protecting tribal sovereignty and advancing the interests of all tribal nations.”
He said the IGA’s current priorities include addressing the threat posed by Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) sports betting futures contracts, protecting Indian health care funding amid federal budget challenges, and coordinating through the Coalition for Tribal Sovereignty (CTS) alongside NCAI, USET, and other national and regional organisations.
