Casinos operate in every Canadian province except New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador. Of the 70 casinos in Canada, 15 are run by First Nations, according to the Alberta Gaming Research Institute. (Carolyn Kaster/Associated Press)

First Nations leaders are planning to set up a national aboriginal gaming commission to gain more control over the huge revenue generated by native-run casinos.

Casinos on First Nations reserves in Canada generate millions of dollars every year. But some aboriginal groups say they frequently find themselves at odds with federal and provincial authorities over jurisdiction and revenue sharing.

The issue is attracting attention at this week's annual meeting of the Assembly of First Nations in Winnipeg, where some leaders say the time is right for a national First Nations gaming association to gain more control over gambling's riches.

"It's all about sovereignty and jurisdiction and exerting that and occupying the field so that we can in turn have our own First Nations gaming act," said Chief Perry Bellegarde of the Little Black Bear First Nation in Saskatchewan — a province that is home to six First Nations casinos.

Most provinces that have commercial gaming have agreements in place to share revenues with First Nations communities. No such agreement is in place in B.C. — a situation that led B.C.'s First Nations to set up their own gambling authority last month.

Despite the problems generated by gambling, many aboriginal leaders view casinos and video lottery terminals as an effective way of creating jobs on reserves, where high unemployment is a chronic problem.

An American delegate told the AFN conference that First Nations gaming in the U.S. generated $26 billion US in revenues last year in the 28 states that have casinos on reservations.

With files from the CBC's Patricia Bell