Tribal gaming down 6% in 2008

<p>American Indian gaming in California was down about 6 percent in 2008 as nervous consumers wagered less cash in tribal casinos, according to an annual report released Thursday. </p><p>The state's 65 American Indian casinos generated $7.3 billion last year, compared to $7.8 billion in 2007. </p><p>This year won't be much better, said Alan Meister, an economist who authored the report. “The gaming industry has continued to struggle much like it did in 2008,” he said. “Tough times could continue well into 2010 in some markets.” </p><p>Tribal gaming should bounce back when the economy improves, consumers start spending and lenders make cash available for casino projects, he said. </p><p>“The outlook for Indian gaming in the mid-term is very good,” Meister said. “There's definitely room for growth.” </p><p>California tribal gambling set a record in 2007, but industry growth has slowed dramatically since then. The weak economy is partly to blame, Meister said, but government also has put limits on new casinos and casino expansion. </p><p>Still, some California casinos are poised to grow when the market allows, he said. They include River Rock Casino near Geyserville, which postponed a $600 million expansion last year. </p><p>Nationwide, tribal gambling revenue hit $27 billion in 2008, 1.5 percent above the prior year, according to Meister's Indian Gaming Industry Report. That's the smallest increase since 1988, when Congress passed the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, the report said. </p><p>Almost half of the states with tribal casinos saw declining sales last year. Currently, 237 tribes operate 442 casinos in 28 states. </p><p>But American Indian casinos nationwide still grew faster than their non-tribal competitors in 2008, and they could overtake the commercial gambling industry “in the near future,” Meister said. Fewer than half of the nation's 564 federally recognized tribes have casinos now. </p><p>California is by far the largest American Indian gaming state, with 27 percent of the U.S. tribal casino market last year. The state's American Indian casinos had nearly 68,000 slot and other electronic betting machines. They also offered more than 2,100 table games. </p><p>In addition to gambling revenue, California's tribal casinos generated $835 million in sales of food, drinks, shows and hotel rooms last year. </p><p>Several North Coast tribes expanded or renovated their casinos over the past two years, according to the report. The Hopland Pomo tribe renovated its Sho-Ka-Wah Casino and the Middletown Pomo tribe opened a hotel at its Twin Pine Casino. </p><p>The Blue Lake tribe also added a hotel, and the Dry Creek Pomo tribe renovated its River Rock Casino. </p><p>Meanwhile, the Graton, Manchester, Pinoleville, Upper Lake, Scotts Valley, Cloverdale, Elk Valley and Guidiville tribes have plans to open casinos in the future, the report said. </p><p>You can reach Staff Writer Steve Hart at 521-5205 or steve.hart@pressdemocrat.com.</p>