More than 600 people attended the opening day of the 12th annual Western Indian Gaming Conference on Wednesday.

The conference, sponsored by the California Nations Indian Gaming Association, is taking place at the casino owned by the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians. Anthony Miranda, a tribal member, serves as president of CNIGA and delivered the State of Tribal Nations address.

Miranda laid out five initiatives for CNIGA in 2007. He called on tribes to create an economic development task force, share revenues with non-gaming tribes, address compulsive gambling issues, develop partnerships with non-Indian communities and educate state lawmakers.

"We can and must find ways extend the benefits of economic progress to all California tribes," he said.

The Pechanga Band and five other tribes hope to build on their progress with new gaming compacts. But one Democratic lawmaker said they have until the end of the month to find sponsors while another called for the deals to be renegotiated altogether.

The conference concludes today. It will be followed by a CNIGA membership meeting on Friday.

Get the Story:
Gambling conference attracts crowd at Pechanga (The North County Times 1/18)
Tribes told deal deadline near (The Riverside Press-Enterprise 1/18)
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Association chair lays out strategies for '07 (The Palm Springs Desert Sun 1/18)
Clock ticking to introduce legislation (The Palm Springs Desert Sun 1/18)