The phenomenon of “Indian Casinos” arose after a 1988 ruling legalizing tribal gambling establishments. The vast majority of these exist on reservations and tribal lands, which tend to be distant from cities and major traffic areas.
Near San Francsisco, a proposed $1.5 billion casino is the latest and largest example of the trend away from the reservations. The Guidville Band of Pomo Indians owns land near Ukiah, California — over 100 miles from the proposed Richmond location — but assert that their tribal lands were originally in the San Francisco Bay area. The proposal would establish a sizable casino, hotel, shops, and housing…and provide opportunities for both the tribe and the local economy.
Over a dozen other applications have been filed by tribes seeking better casino locations, but only two (in Spokane and Milwaukee) are currently open for business. More than 20 tribes had such applications rejected during the last year of the Bush administration, on the grounds that Indian casinos must be within commuting distance from the reservation.
Communities such as Richmond are seeing the usual debate between embracing the boon to an often-faltering local economy and the potential risk of increased crime. Adding fuel to the fire are non-Indian gambling businesses, who find it easier to tolerate a distant competitor than a neighboring one.
