California Getting More Slot Machines?

The governor and the legislature have been kicking around several new slot machine compacts since last November, with people on both sides of the issue arguing for and against the proposed increase. If all of the compacts are ratified the way they stand, California would be getting an additional 22,000 slot machines, putting them in line for the title of the nation’s largest gambling state – over Nevada.

California already has more than 50 casinos that bring in $7 billion a year – which is more than the amount that all of the casinos on the Las Vegas Strip bring in. The tribes own the casinos, and have managed to get themselves into a position of power in the state, determining who stays and goes politically – depending on whether or not they are getting what they want. This time around, the governor caved to the tribes, giving them the compacts for more slot machines, but the legislature rebuffed the compacts saying they were not able to approve them at this time. Needless to say, Schwarzenegger got re-elected and many members of the legislature did not.

Over the last ten years, the tribes that own gambling venues have contributed more than $150 million to political races, making them an extremely powerful monopoly in the state. The Agua Caliente Banks of Cahuilla Indians is the largest n the state, and the only one to operate two large casinos – and they are looking to open a third.

The idea of the federal law allowing tribes to have slot machines and gaming was so that the tribes would have a way of supporting themselves, as many lived below poverty level. However, in California, most of the tribes are still below poverty level, with only a few tribes owning the casinos and bringing in the money to more than support themselves.

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