There is a wonderful web site 500nations.com where you can learn almost anything you want to know about our nation's 565 federally recognized tribes. For instance, they tell us that there are 493 gaming operations in the United States. They are owned by 244 of those 565 federally recognized tribes, and they operate in 28 of our 50 states. In 24 of those 28 states, Vegas-style Class III casinos are allowed. 4 allow only Class II (bingo slots.)
500 Nations goes on to report that the annual (2015) revenue from all Native American gaming operations is nearly $30 billion, and represents 43% of all casino revenue in the US. 38% of all US gambling revenues come from just 2 states: California ($7 billion) and Oklahoma ($3.77 billion.) These two states are followed by Florida ($2.83 billion), Washington ($2.32 billion), and Arizona ($1.8 billion.) Indian gaming pays $9 billion in taxes and revenue sharing payments to federal, state, and local governments.
I live in California. California, according to this site, has 69 Native American casinos and 90 "poker casinos" - often called "card clubs". 62 of California's 109 tribes own these casinos and resorts - gaming palaces with over 70,000 slot machines and over 2,000 table games. You can find a complete list of all Native American casinos and links to their sites on 500nations.com.
My home is in Riverside County, just north of San Diego County. My local casino is the State's biggest resort: Pechanga, but I do most of my playing in the San Diego casinos just a few miles south. Currently residents of San Diego can choose from Barona (the local favorite), Pauma, Golden Acorn, Harrah's Resort Southern California (Rincon), LaPosta, Pala, Santa Ysabel, Sycuan, Valley View, and Viejas. Usually my husband and I play at Pauma and either Pala or Harrah's. Sometimes we visit Valley View and occasionally Barona which is really a little to far to drive. But we have plenty of choices and if we're feeling flush, Las Vegas is just a short plane ride away. We don't really need any more casinos in Southern California.
Well, even if we don't need anymore casinos, we're about to get one anyway. The Jamul Indian Village on Thursday, August 4, signed a gaming compact through 2045 with Governor Jerry Brown acting on behalf of the State of California. If you are not familiar with California gaming regulations, casino gambling is permitted in California only if the tribes have entered into a compact (agreement) between tribe and state regulating the number of games allowed and the payments that must be made to the State each year to maintain the privilege. Only tribes are allowed to own casinos in California -- though many have entered into agreements with other companies to manage these casinos for them.
The new Jamul-San Diego is slated to begin operations soon, possibly by the end of this month in partnership with a large Pennsylvania gaming corporation, Penn National Gaming. Smaller casinos often partner with other companies to help them manage their casinos. Jamul Indian Village (JIV) is a very small tribe -- only 54 members, part of the Kumeyaay Nation. The history of the tribe in Southern California can be traced back 12,000 years. The first European contact occurred in San Diego in 1524. JIV, one of 13 bands of the Kumeyaay Nation, federally recognized as a sovereign nation, traces its roots to these natives. The reservation is a scant 6 acres located off Route 94. None of the tribal members live on the reservation itself, but the tribe has been busy building a three-story $360 million casino on the parcel for years. The casino has been in the tribe's plans since the 1990s when JIV was one of the original tribes in San Diego County to sign a compact with the state through then-governor Gray Davis, an agreement that was set to expire in 2020. The casino was bitterly opposed by local residents, but construction continued despite their opposition and the facility will feature slot machines, live table games, multiple restaurants, bars and lounges, and an enclosed parking structure.
When will our new gaming venue open? No one is saying, but according to East County Magazine, there are signs posted by Caltrans along State Rt 94 saying "Expect Delays on HWY 94 in Jamul August 15 - 22" so we must be getting close. Will I visit Jamul? Depends on whether my husband or son want to drive that far to see if a casino will let you win when they first open their doors hoping the experience will encourage you to return again. If I find out anything I'll update this post, but I probably will not see you there. Here's a picture of Jamul from the East County Magazine.
August 20 : Update
Controversy Rages on. County Supervisor Diana Jacobs held a news conference at a private home yesterday to address community concerns. She called Route 94 from San Diego to Jamul a "deathtrap" plagued by collisions, injuries, and death. When the casino opens, there will be 9,000 more daily trips on the road. She called the opening "a disaster in the making." The county supervisor claims safety is their main concern. The tribe is concerned too and has committed nearly $20 million toward roadway improvements identified by Caltrans, and $3.7 million for roadway improvements identified by San Diego County. Protestors carry signs saying "No Dice" and "Wecome to Death Alley."
A few statistics from the SD Tribune article: the gaming facility of 200,00 square feet will house 1,700 slot machines when it opens, nearly 50 live table games, restaurants, bars, and lounges. The underground parking structure will accommodate 1,900 spaces. No opening date set yet, though they are now advertizing on television and billboards. We'll just have to wait and see how this all turns out.
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