Tribal Casino Policy Under Federal Examination

The federal government hasn't decided on a firm policy regarding tribal casino establishment, saying the Bush rule that casinos need to be near reservations may be lifted to a degree.

Tribal casinos have generated hundreds of millions to elevate Native Americans up from the bonds of poverty which burden many reservation residents, but the rapid expansion of tribal gaming led to political reaction under the Bush administration limiting new casinos to commuting distance from reservations. Now, the Obama administration is reviewing the policy, and preparing to allow freer expansion of tribal gambling rights.

Bush officials argued that gambling and casinos were granted so as to give jobs to tribal members, requiring that such casinos be built close enough to reservation land that tribal members could work daily at the casinos. But tribal leaders say the benefits of casino gambling go well beyond employment to include revenue created for infrastructure and investment, negating the need to keep gaming venues within driving distance.

A spokesman for the Bureau of Indian Affairs rode the fence in the discussion, allowing that tribes should have the right to build away from reservations.

"We're also very conscious of whether the communities approve or disapprove. We don't want tribes willy-nilly going off reservation," said Gary Garrison.

Licensed casino operators feel tribal casinos have several competitive advantages, including being able to negotiate what, if any, revenue they pay to the government, and the ability to ignore smoking bans driving customers from regulated casinos.