Golden Arrow Entertainment announced last Wednesday that it will launch the GEObet Gambling Network in November, hoping the combined power of multiple tribes can make the first Native American-owned online casino and poker network a major player in the industry.

“GEObet is helping Native American tribes to fulfill the natural extension of their rights as sovereign lands to bring their casino gambling businesses into the new millennium,” said Gerry Gionet, CEO of the GEObet Gambling Network, in a press release. “As competition for land-based gaming gets fiercer, all land-based casino groups, whether in California, Nevada or anywhere else in North America, will bring their businesses online. Tribal gaming has the right to protect its interests and compete with state and private casino groups.”

Peter Karroll, CEO of International Arts Management Corporation, GEObet’s contracted marketing firm, told PocketFives where GEObet will accept players from: “Anywhere there is a license issued that satisfies our software providers. This may be a Tribal license or a government license depending on the jurisdiction.”

He added that while people not on Tribal lands in the U.S. will not be allowed on the GEObet Network at this time, he is hopeful that they will be able to participate at some point. “We respect the sovereignty of each nation and will allow them to make their own decision, so we will not be taking bets from other tribes unless they agree by licensure that we are allowed to do so,” he said.

Poker players on and off tribal lands in Canada will be able to play on the network.

GEObet first made its intentions to create the poker network known at the iGaming Symposium in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan in late September. While last week’s announcement made no mention of an exact launch date other than saying it would be in November, the date of November 6 was targeted during the Symposium. Coincidentally, that’s the same day Full Tilt Poker will be reborn.

On the announcement at the iGaming Symposium, Gionet said, “We felt nothing but support throughout the conference. We’re excited that this Nation has embraced this opportunity to revitalize its community.”

Based in the Tsuu T’ina Nation in Alberta, Canada as a member of the Alberta pokercommunity, GEObet has been talking to several Saskatchewan tribes as potential partners for the network. It is also looking to bring Native American-owned casinos onboard to allow them to have virtual gaming operations to complement their brick-and-mortar properties. The aforementioned spokesperson for GEObet told PocketFives that the network’s initial Tribal and casino partners will be revealed this week.

GEObet.com, owned by the GeoBET Gambling Network, is currently the lone gaming brand to on the network, having opened in September.

One of Gionet’s major goals with this undertaking is to provide benefits to Native American communities and retain customers who have enjoyed visiting their casinos. “First Nation casinos can’t afford to lose their many land-based casino customers to offshore online operators,” Gionet said. “So, we’ve developed a turnkey iGaming solution that will enable Saskatchewan First Nations to get up and running online as quickly and smoothly as possible.”

“If Tribal nations and Tribal casino groups join forces, they will create the largest gaming force in the world. We want to open Tribal gaming up to a worldwide audience and reach far beyond the players within a three-hour car ride of Tribal lands.”

With the upcoming launch of the network, Gionet sees an opportunity to bring new jobs and technical education to people on Tribal lands. For example, facilities would be needed to house gaming servers. Professionals would be needed such as programmers, internet security experts, and website designers.

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