Indian Gaming > Editorial: False promises on California gaming

August 31, 2006

Editorial: False promises on California gaming

"Three tribes in Southern California could expand casinos with up to 7,500 slot machines, making each larger than any gambling spot in the nation. These three, plus a fourth tribal expansion announced several weeks ago, would add 19,500 slots to the state's existing total of 58,120.

The governor, who came to office denouncing casino-operating tribes, now wants to hand the industry its biggest leg up in years.

In broader terms, the pending deals are a reminder of the false promises sold to voters who approved reservation gambling a decade ago. The idea of self-help for destitute tribes has morphed into a potent, ever-expanding industry.

Compare these latest megadeals with one lost in the shuffle this week. The Yurok tribe, based along a remote stretch of the Klamath River near the Oregon border, got agreement to operate 99 slots in gas stations and grocery stores on its reservation. This compact comes close to the original selling point for tribal gambling: added income for poor tribes who had few economic options. "

Get the Story:
Editorial: Slot machine California (The San Francisco Chronicle 8/31)