National Public Radio: Hopi Tribe debates gaming

Wednesday, May 19, 2004  

Members of the Hopi Tribe of Arizona are going to the polls today to consider whether to start gaming.

Hopi culture warns of the dangers of gaming. Elders and cultural experts within the tribe say "The Gambler," a half-man, half-goatlike figure, is someone to be feared.

But tribal officials say they need to find revenue sources for a reservation that has a 65 percent unemployment rate. Royalties from the Peabody Coal mines, which are significant part of the tribal budget, are expected to be cut in half by the end of next year, National Public Radio reports.

The referendum today will be an up-or-down vote on gaming. An option to lease slot machine rights to another tribes was removed.

Tribal officials say a casino on trust land near Winslow could bring in $24 million a year.

Get the Story:
Hopi Tribe Looks to Gambling to Boost Economy (National Public Radio 5/18)