California governor should reject off-reservation casinos, LA Times suggests in editorial

California Gov. Jerry Brown has until the end of the month to decide if two Indian tribes can develop casinos on land far away from their difficult-to-reach reservations.

The North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians wants to build along a freeway outside Madera, and the Enterprise Rancheria of Estom Yumeka Maidu Tribe would place its casino near Marysville.

The federal government gave the tribes permission to operate hotels and casinos on off-reservation sites.

The Los Angeles Times doesn’t believe this is a good idea. In an editorial Sunday, the Times told Brown he should veto the casino plans.

“This represents a bad precedent for gambling growth in the state,” the Times said. “Brown should reject both proposals and hold a firm line on tribes’ efforts to build off their reservations, especially when such casinos would be located in or near more populated areas. And changes in federal law are warranted to deter this from happening again.”

According to the annual Indian Gaming Industry Report from Casino City, California had 66 tribal casinos in 2010, which produced more than $6.78 billion in gaming revenue, the most of any state in the nation.

“Indian gambling has become a well-heeled and powerful lobbying force in Sacramento,” the Times stated. “That makes opposing expansions politically risky, but off-reservation gambling isn’t a business the state should encourage as a growth industry.”