2007
11Feb07 - Daily Press:
A comprehensive study of problem gambling in California finds that 3.7 percent of the state population has a lifetime problem or are pathological gamblers. That means that 750,000 to 1 million Californians have serious gambling issues.
16Jan07 – Gannett News Service - Currently, 226 Indian tribes operate about 400 gambling sites in 28 states.
2006
31May06 – www.library.ca.gov/HTML/statseg2a.cfm - A report finds that while increased gambling has provided jobs and economic growth in rural areas of California, it has also been associated with increased crime and other adverse consequences.
Gross gambling revenues in California totaled about $13 billion in 2004, including Indian casinos, cardrooms, horseracing, the State Lottery and Internet gambling, according to the report released by Attorney General Bill Lockyer. Tribal casino revenues rose from $3.67 billion in 2002 to $5.78 billion in 2004, an increase of 36.5 percent.
The tribes' casino and retail operations provide economic and employment benefits to the surrounding communities in rural areas, where most casinos are located. They have created tens of thousands of jobs, 90 percent of which are held by non-Indians, the study found. The economic effect in urban areas is much different and potentially negative due to displacement of existing retail operations.
Regarding the effect on Indian communities, national research suggests tribes that operate casinos compare favorably to non-gaming tribes as measured by per capita income, family and child poverty rates, unemployment and housing conditions. Studies suggest that, four years to six years after casinos open, surrounding communities experience increases in rape, murder and other violent crimes, as well as property crimes such as burglary and auto theft.
Some gaming tribes provide financial support to local law enforcement through grants or memorandums of understanding. Some of the state revenue-sharing money also has helped fund prosecution of casino-related crime, Lockyer said.
Problem Gambling - Extrapolating from national data and figures from other states, roughly 1.52 million California adults and minors are problem or pathological gamblers. That figure includes: 589,000 adult problem gamblers; 333,000 adult pathological gamblers; 436,800 youth problem gamblers; and 159,900 youth pathological gamblers.
In California, the estimated annual societal cost of problem and pathological gamblers is just under $1 billion ($998.1 million). That figure includes costs associated with welfare benefits, arrest and incarceration, bankruptcy, and physical and mental health treatment. More than 75 percent of the calls seeking help from the California Council on Problem Gambling come from gamblers who prefer casinos. California's gaming tribes provide financial support for the state's Office of Problem Gambling, which provides public awareness programs, research, and training for health care providers and industry personnel. The state, however, spends no money on actual gambling treatment programs. Under recently-negotiated compacts, tribal casino operators' agreements with local jurisdictions will include provisions to combat gambling addiction.
Citing figures from Lockyer's office, the report shows gross revenues at cardrooms totaled $656 million in 2004, an 8.5 increase from the $600 million earned in 2003. Betting on horseracing declined slightly in fiscal 2004-05, falling by $138 million to $4.1 billion. State Lottery revenues totaled $2.97 billion in 2004, up 5.9 percent from 2003.
As of 2004, California had 56 tribal casinos, with 58,100 slot machines and 1,820 gaming tables. Reflecting consolidation in the cardroom industry, the number of cardrooms dropped from 113 to 98 from 2001 to 2005, while the number of tables increased from 1,473 to 1,515.
18Apr06 - Associated Press (Barstow, CA) – California Law allows Las Vegas-style gambling only on Indian Land, unless the tribe had no reservation on October 17, 1988 (date of Indian Gambling Bill); the lands (proposed for gambling) were part of the tribe’s original reservation; the land is given to the tribe as part of getting its federal recognition restored; or federal, state, local and nearby tribal officials agree that gambling on new lands would be good for everyone involved.
Federal law makes it difficult for a tribe to travel far from its reservation to set up a casino, but tribes nationwide are trying and in some cases succeeding by teaming up with investors or local governments.
05Jan06 – With 223 Indian tribes operating 411 casinos in 28 states and bringing in more than $18 billion in revenue annually, there is just too much money involved and no way to fully account for it," (U.S. Congressman) Rogers said. "Closing loopholes is crucial if we are going to end the exploitation."
2005
22July2005 - The 1988 federal law that authorized casino gambling on Indian reservations was dependent on state laws. That created a sharp divide between winners and losers: Only two-thirds of America's 350 Indian tribes may tap into an industry with revenues of $19 billion a year. It also ensured that the tribes are permanently entangled with politics.
Indian gaming generated $18.5 billion in gross revenues in 2004, almost double the amount produced by Nevada casinos and the trend is expected to continue indefinitely, according to tribal and Nevada officials. A 10 percent increase extended more than a decade of double-digit growth for tribal gambling, which has boomed since Congress passed the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988. Gambling revenue for major Nevada resorts totaled $9.88 billion in fiscal 2004. Mark Van Norman, executive director of the National Indian Gaming Association, projected the 10 percent growth trend will continue. Indian gambling, combined with tribal hospitality, restaurant and entertainment services, produced $21 billion last year compared to $19.59 billion for Nevada. Van Norman noted net revenues were about $6 billion less than the gross sum due to wages, salaries, Social Security taxes and benefits. There are 411 Indian casinos across the country, operated by 223 tribes in 28 states. Ernie Stevens Jr., chairman of the Indian group, said tribal members spent $228 million last year to regulate gambling operations. Tribes also paid states $58 million, and $11 million to the National Indian Gaming Commission for additional regulation.
11May2005 - Since 1988, when Congress passed the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, there have been 191 applications from tribes seeking federal recognition, according to Lee Fleming, the Interior Department's director of federal acknowledgment in the office of Indian Affairs.
