The Central Council of the Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska marked the soft opening of the Two Coppers Casino last week (June 5), unveiling a project tribal leaders say reflects both economic growth and tribal self-determination.
Built on North Douglas Island near Juneau, the facility includes electronic gaming machines and is expected to create jobs while generating revenue for tribal services. The launch follows years of planning, regulatory work and investment by the tribe and its partners.
“Projects like this do not happen overnight,” Tlingit & Haida President Richard J. Peterson said during opening ceremonies. “They require patience, courage, and a willingness to believe in a future that cannot yet be seen.”
Peterson thanked the George family along with tribal leaders, employees and supporters who helped bring the project to completion.
“For Tlingit & Haida, this enterprise represents opportunity,” Peterson said. “Opportunity for jobs. Opportunity for career advancement. Opportunity for Tribal citizens and residents seeking meaningful employment.”
Tribal leaders say casino revenue will help strengthen programs and provide a more durable economic foundation for future generations.
Tribal legal landscape remains in flux as Tlingit & Haida open Two Coppers Casino
The casino opens against a backdrop of continuing legal and political disputes over tribal gaming authority. In February 2024, the U.S. Department of the Interior issued a solicitor’s opinion, supporting the view that Alaska Native allotments generally fall under the same jurisdictional principles applied in the Lower 48 and that Alaska tribes are presumed to have jurisdiction over Native allotments unless exceptions exist.
It later became part of the legal reasoning behind federal approvals connected to projects such as Two Coppers. The department reversed its position on September 25, 2025, withdrawing the opinion and restoring the older perspective. Federal officials said the withdrawn opinion did not represent the best interpretation of applicable law.
Even so, Tlingit & Haida leaders have continued moving ahead and expressed confidence in the casino’s legal standing.
“This soft opening is only the first step,” he said. “Over the coming weeks we will continue welcoming invited guests, learning from the experience, refining our operations, and preparing for our official grand opening on July 1.”
Gaming General Manager Janice Hotch said the operation was developed with extensive regulatory oversight in mind.
“Gaming is one of the most highly regulated industries in the country,” Hotch said. “This is not simply about operating a gaming facility. It is about earning and maintaining the trust of our Tribal citizens, our partners, our regulators, and every guest who walks through our doors.”
Questions over tribal gaming authority extend well beyond Alaska. In Northern California, a federal judge recently paused litigation involving the Koi Nation casino proposal while related appeals proceed. Another dispute continues in Madera County, where the Picayune Rancheria is challenging approvals tied to the planned North Fork Mono Casino & Resort. Separately, four California tribes have urged officials to delay gaming activity linked to a proposed temporary casino in Vallejo until federal reviews and legal questions are resolved.
For Tlingit & Haida, however, the week centered on a milestone years in the making.
“This enterprise represents opportunity,” he said, “and an investment in the future of our people.”
Featured image: Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska via release
