"The Eastern Band of Cherokee announced an expansion of the Harrah's Casino and Hotel that will bring 1,000 new jobs to Western North Carolina.

The expansion could, no pun intended, give tribal leaders more chips to put on the table in their push for live-dealer games like blackjack and poker.

The operation is currently restricted to video machines. Along with this push should come expanded efforts to identify and help problem gamblers.

Whether live dealers become a reality, news of 1,000 new jobs -- jobs that don't bring with them the environmental issues associated with, say, heavy manufacturing -- is a welcome boost for the entire region.

Of particular interest, however, is where Cherokee officials are putting their focus and money.

Cherokee has long had a tourism-driven economy. Now it's a dual economy of gaming and tourism.

While the news is often about the casino, moves are being made to shore up the tourism economy and preserve and enhance Cherokee culture."

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Editorial: Jobs come with casino boom, as does a renewal (The Asheville Citizen-Times 2/2)