The year began with portents of growth for Southern
California's American Indian gaming industry. But with gasoline
approaching $5 a gallon and an economy set in neutral, the latter half
of 2008 seems murky.
Half a year ago, four Southern California tribes made an appeal to
California voters to grant them expanded gaming.
Extra slot machines, the argument went, meant extra money for the
state general fund under new gaming deals.
Voters said yes on Feb. 5.
Recently, one of the four--the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay
Nation--indicated it was not ready to expand from 2,000 slot machines to
the 5,000 machines approved by voters.
The band, whose casino and reservation lie east of El Cajon,
delayed paying the state tens of millions of dollars owed under the new
agreement, according to accounts in the Los Angeles Times and the San
Diego Union-Tribune.
The published reports said that while California voters approved
the expansion deal, tribal members had not yet signed off on the deal.
The Times reported the Schwarzenegger administration gave the tribe
permission to begin its payments to the state in 2009. The three other
tribes must make their payments in July.
Sycuan's previous gaming agreement limits the tribe to 2,000
machines.
This comes at a time when federal government statistics show that
growth in American Indian gaming is slowing.
Nationally, Indian casinos enjoyed $26 million in revenue in 2007,
a 4.4 percent increase from the previous year.
In the past the industry enjoyed growth of 10 percent or greater.
The region that encompasses California and northern Nevada grew by 1.6
percent to $7.8 billion.
American Indian tribes do not publicize their revenue, nor do the
state or federal governments.
Construction As Indicator
One main indicator of growth--construction--has shown itself in
different areas of San Diego County. In the north, the Pala band is
paying for a segment of the highway that connects Interstate 15 with the
casino.
Dignitaries broke ground on the project June 20. Casino
administrators did not return an e-mail about the status of the
band's planned expansion expected to cost $100 million.
In May, Valley View Casino revealed it wanted expand its casino by
7,000 square feet--a modest amount by local gaming standards--to
accommodate extra bingo machines. The expansion would precede
construction of a hotel tower. The San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians
operates the casino outside of Valley Center, and recently expanded its
entertainment offerings with outdoor concerts. The second-half lineup
includes Chris Isaak, Sheryl Crow, Bill Cosby and Randy Travis.
The wild card for the latter half of 2008 may be the Jamul Indian
Village. Working with publicly traded Lakes Entertainment Inc., the band
wants to build a venue for bingo machines outside the village of Jamul.
Neighbors oppose the project.
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