Dave Palermo: Sports wagering and impacts on tribal gaming

Tuesday, September 11, 2012  

"Should Congress or the U.S. Supreme Court reverse federal law prohibiting sports wagering, there appears to be a difference in opinion as to who might benefit most from sports books in California: American Indian tribes, card clubs or thoroughbred racetracks.

“Sports wagering for the Augustine tribe would be very, very good,” said Michael Lombardi, gaming commissioner for the Augustine Band of Cahuilla Indians, generating holiday customer traffic in a region with quality demographics.

“Our place would be packed,” he said, as would other regional resorts operated by the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, Pechanga and Rincon bands of Luiseno Indians, Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians and others.

But some tribal leaders fear California card clubs and race tracks would benefit more than the tribes, and perhaps lure business away from the casinos.

“I’ve heard some people say if the card rooms and race tracks got sports betting, it would hurt Indian gaming; that it would be better to have no sports wagering at all,” Lombardi said."

Get the Story:
Dave Palermo: Legal sports wagering in California an interesting proposition (Pechanga.net 9/11)