Opinion: Today's Indian wars are being fought over new casinos

America still fights Indian wars, but today these battles center not around settlers pushing their homesteads onto tribal lands but around gambling.

Thanks to advantages given by the political system, Indian casinos may soon surpass commercial casinos in total revenue. Tribal lands often are located far away from population centers, making it tougher to attract customers. But President Obama has a two-part initiative that may soon provide the Indian owners with new opportunities and locations to expand their casinos.

Not only are non-Indians worried, but some tribes are also trying to stop other tribes from competing with them. Since the 1988 Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, tribal casinos have exploded, rising from virtually zero revenue to almost $30 billion annually, 43 percent of all gaming industry revenue in America.

Some 241 of the 566 federally recognized tribes now operate 425 gaming facilities, compared to just over 500 nontribal commercial casinos. Tribes have monopolies in many of the 28 states where they operate. (Four other states allow only lesser forms of tribal gambling.)