The Indian Gaming Association (IGA) announced Friday evening that its longtime chairman, Ernest L. Stevens, Jr., died suddenly earlier in the day. He was 66.
Stevens’ son Brandon Yellowbird-Stevens also announced Stevens’ unexpected passing in a Facebook post.
Stevens was a member of the Oneida Nation, located in Northeast Wisconsin. As chairman of the IGA for more than 20 years, he worked to advance tribal government gaming and strengthen tribal sovereignty, according to the press release.
“Under his leadership, IGA became one of the most powerful and respected voices in Washington, D.C., tirelessly championing the rights of tribal nations and protecting the integrity of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act,” the release reads.
“Our IGA Board and staff are stunned and saddened by Chairman Stevens passing,” said IGA Executive Director Jason Giles. “Out of respect for his wife Cheryl, his lovely family and the Oneida Nation, we will issue a full tribute at the appropriate time. Please send your prayers to the Stevens family”.
“Ernie Stevens, Jr. was more than a chairman; he was a warrior, a statesman, and a champion for all of Indian Country,” Giles said in the release. “His vision and commitment built bridges across tribal nations, Congress, and federal agencies, ensuring that tribal gaming remained a cornerstone of tribal self-determination and economic growth. His legacy will be unmatched, and his voice will echo for generations to come.”
During his tenure, Indian gaming revenues grew from $11 billion in 2000 to a record-breaking $43.9 billion in 2024, making Tribal Government Gaming the largest segment of the U.S. gaming industry.
Stevens was named one of Wisconsin’s Most Influential Native American Leaders by Madison365 in 2020.
“IGA honors Chairman Stevens’ memory by continuing the work he devoted his life to defending tribal sovereignty, empowering tribal governments, and celebrating the strength of Native nations. Chairman Stevens always believed his greatest accomplishment and legacy was his family,” the IGA said in its release. “We extend our deepest compassion to his wife Cheryl, Children Brandon, Ernest III, Margaret, Maria and Lois and his 20 grandchildren during this time of great loss and will carry forward his mission with the same strength and dedication that defined his life’s work.”
