Tribal Slot Machine Gaming Continues to Grow

Las Vegas is known for its slot machines and casinos, but many don’t know that California is actually second in line for slot machine revenue. That is due to the high number of Indian tribes opening slot machines casinos in the state. Sports and horse racing has declined, however, and many feel it is in response to the number of slot machines.

Nationwide, Indian revenues for the slot machines and gambling rose 19.2% in 2005. One of the largest employers in Riverside County is the collection of six slot machine casinos run by the tribes – and one of the biggest money makers for the state. Many think that the reason the racing and sports revenue has dropped is because of the number of slot machines that these and other tribes have brought in, added to the fact that the racetracks are not allowed slot machines per California law.

The racing industry is worried because the slot machines and all other forms of gambling except for the racing industry have increased over the years. They feel that they need to marry two of them together – namely the slot machines and the racetracks – in order for the tracks to survive. They say that since other states allow slot machines at their tracks they are at a disadvantage in the way that they are able to run their tracks – they cannot compete. They cannot compete with the other tracks, and they cannot compete with the number of slot machines at each of the casinos.

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