“Helping tribal governments succeed in gaming has been my life’s work for three plus decades. During that time, Indian people and tribal leaders have become our friends, business partners, and political allies. I’m proud of the fact that capital has flowed and continues to flow to tribal businesses and then to tribal governments as a result of our combined efforts. Tribal sovereignty made this all possible. We should all work to defend and advance sovereignty as a primary tool in correcting hundreds of years of injustice and lack of access to capital.” – Knute Knudson, IGT
Knute Knudson, Jr., IGT’s Vice President of Global Business Development and Tribal Ambassador, was recently inducted into the American Gaming Association’s (AGA) Gaming Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2021. Knudson was honored at the AGA’s Chairman’s Reception during the Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas, NV.
Induction into the Gaming Hall of Fame is one of the highest honors accorded by the gaming industry. Each year, two or more individuals who have distinguished themselves through significant contributions receive this honor. Gaming Hall of Fame honorees are selected by an independent panel of gaming leaders.
“Knute’s dedicated support and committed advocacy of tribal gaming expansion and sustained health and well-being of Indian Country are unmatched in our industry,” said Renato Ascoli, IGT CEO, Global Gaming. “Knute is a true champion of tribal gaming – a constant source of knowledge, guidance, and support to hundreds of tribes throughout his lengthy career. IGT is incredibly proud that Knute’s impact as a strategic partner and dedicated friend to Indian Country is being recognized with an induction into the AGA’s Gaming Hall of Fame.”
Knudson has been an advocate and proponent of Indian gaming for three decades. As Deputy Chief of Staff at the Department of the Interior from 1989 to 1993, Knudson led efforts to implement the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, working on compacts, trust applications, and National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGA) appointments.
After joining Sodak Gaming, Knudson played an integral role in securing economic self-sufficiency for Indian Country throughout the 1990s, financing more than $1.5 billion in equipment and systems sales to tribes looking to start gaming businesses. Knudson authored “Getting Started in Indian Gaming” which became a blueprint for the first decade of tribal gaming startups.
Knudson testified in front of Congress, state legislatures, and regulators as an advocate of tribal gaming, constantly navigating the complexities of policy and practice to identify and address the needs of Indian people and culture. In the early 1990s, Knudson successfully presented the case to the Department of the Interior and NIGA that linked Wide Area Progressive games were permissible under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.
This led to the launch of the Native American Progressive System (NAPS) in 1994. Today, Knudson continues to advance the interests of tribal gaming growth, sovereignty, and prosperity. His work for IGT brings the latest technology, branded content, and proven core games to tribes to grow casino revenues and strengthen tribal self-sufficiency and economic independence.
Knudson has been honored by dozens of tribal governments and associations, and in 2018, he was honored with NIGA’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
