Employees of tribal casinos in California are covered by tribal workers' compensation plans, not by the state's.

That means casino workers who are injured on the job or have other complaints must go through the tribe to seek compensation. Some tribes have appeals panels, others have an independent arbitrator and some have their own courts.

Tribal First provides insurance to several tribes in California. The firm has processed 25,000 to 30,000 claims in the past decade, a senior vice president said.

Some tribal businesses are being investigated by the state for not having insurance. Some tribes say they are not bound by state laws mandating compensation coverage.

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Tribal compensation (The Riverside Press-Enterprise 9/5)
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