“We can say with confidence there is no evidence that the Mafia is running Indian casinos,” said Michael Lombardi, chief regulator for the Augustine Band of Cahuilla Indians in the Coachella Valley.

The Chumash and other bands do the job themselves, electing tribal members to their gaming agencies.Īdvocates of Indian gambling say tribes have kept their casinos free of corruption.

Some tribes hire professional regulators, often with law enforcement backgrounds. Under Proposition 70, tribes would continue to have primary responsibility for policing their $6-billion-a-year industry.Ĭurrently, each of the state’s 53 casino-owning tribes is required to set up a commission to monitor gambling. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who prefers to negotiate gambling agreements directly with tribes. It is opposed by law enforcement leaders, organized labor and Gov. The initiative is sponsored by the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians in Palm Springs, with support from other tribes. Currently, Indian casinos are exempt from state and local taxes. In exchange, tribes would pay the state corporate income tax of 8.84% on casino profits. Proposition 70 would lift restrictions on the number of slot machines and allow tribes to offer unlimited craps, roulette and other high-stakes games. Since then, tribal gaming has expanded so rapidly that the state is expected to overtake Nevada as the nation’s casino capital within several years.Īn initiative on the November ballot would extend the tribes’ monopoly on Las Vegas-style gambling into the next century. “We run a tight operation.”Ĭalifornia voters approved high-stakes gambling on reservations four years ago. “This only underscores our assertion that we can, in fact, regulate ourselves,” said Tribal Chairman Vincent Armenta. They say their tribe - the Santa Ynez Band of Mission Indians - has taken corrective measures whenever infractions have been uncovered. Tribal leaders contend that the success of the Chumash Casino shows that their patrons have full confidence in the integrity of the operation.

Chumash casino security job