California tribes feel recession at their casinos

Tuesday, June 23, 2009  

Tribes in California have been hit by the recession though their revenues haven't dropped as much as those in Las Vegas.

People are still visiting tribal facilities but they are spending less money and less time there. That contributed to a 5.9 percent decline in revenues in 2008, National Indian Gaming Commission said in a recent report.

In southern California, some of the more successful tribes signed new compacts to expand their casinos. But one tribe withdrew the pact due to the economy and the others aren't rushing to add more slot machines to their facilities.

"We seem to be matching the market demand," John Momaney, the interim marketing manager at the Morongo Casino Resort & Spa, told Reuters.

Get the Story:
Calif. tribal casinos struggle, revs outpace Vegas (Reuters 6/22)