"Indian gambling has brought long-needed financial gains to Native American tribes as well as a measure of painful internal strife. In California, reservations where dilapidated mobile homes once dominated the landscape are now dotted with attractive new housing developments, playgrounds, and community, health and fitness centers. At the same time, according to academics and other experts on tribal affairs, gambling wealth has given new impetus to the disenrollment of thousands of California's Native Americans from their tribes by others who want to maximize their share of the money.

Now, two casino proposals could open the door to a new era of Indian gaming in the state. Two tribes located on difficult-to-reach reservations have received federal approval to operate hotels and casinos on land miles away, which would make these the state's first Indian casinos located off existing reservations. The North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians wants to build along a freeway outside Madera, and the Enterprise Rancheria of Estom Yumeka Maidu Tribe would place its casino near Marysville. Now it's up to Gov. Jerry Brown to decide the matter, which he must do by the end of the month."

Get the Story:
Editorial: A bad bet on Indian casinos (The Los Angeles Times 8/19)

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Opinion: California tribes look to take casinos off-reservation (8/17)