Tribal Casinos Subject to Varying Levels of Success

Even though not all tribal casinos prove to earn vast riches for members, Native Americans are grateful for all of the casino gambling benefits, from dividends to school scholarships to jobs paying them a living wage.

Many mainstream sources consider tribal gaming as a license to print money, certain to return enormous wealth to Indian operators. But gambling analysts say there's a great disparity among effectiveness of tribal casinos, and that gambling isn't always a cure-all.

Analysts say tribes operating in states with or near large populations make nearly all of revenues, while other barely break even. Gaming industry reports show that the Mohegan Sun Casino and Foxwoods Casino in Connecticut earned up to over 100 tribal casinos in Oklahoma.

The selection of operating casinos keeps growing, as 425 gaming venues are run by 230 tribes in 28 states. But not all make tribal members rich and prosperous.

Still,the benefits to people used to living at the wrong side of the poverty line are relative. Not every tribe aims to create enough revenue to permit members to live off dividends.

"There are still a number of of tribes who're happy to have just created jobs for his or her members, versus generating numerous revenues," said Jacob Coin, former director of the National Indian Gaming Association.

Noting that not every tribe will have the success of a few of the California tribes, or the Seminoles in Florida, Coin still pointed out, "Having said all that, casinos are probably the one economic tool that has worked for Indians."

Tribal gaming generates $26.5 billion a year in revenue, but forty percent of that may be earned by the California and Connecticut tribes.

Published on May 31, 2009 by K.C.Carmichael

Read More... [Source: Native Indian Gambling News]