The Christian Science Monitor has some thoughts about Gambling on the Reservation:
Gambling dollars have unfortunately become a main source of revenue for most native American tribes. In California, for instance, the state’s 54 Indian gaming casinos bring in some $6 billion a year.
The lure of easy money has caused Indian casinos to proliferate to more than 330, and the opportunity for more has many native Americans working side by side with gambling interests to gain federal recognition as tribes (a prerequisite for opening a casino). Indian tribal offices have been flooded with “I’m an Indian, too” calls.
Members of tribes are embroiled in disputes over just who is a tribe member (and thus, who can share in the bounty). In California, one fifth of the 61 tribes there with gambling agreements are in membership disputes. (The more members, of course, the less casino profit per person.) One band in Kansas is even considering DNA testing to cull its membership. …
But getting Congress to tighten up the recognition process no doubt is stymied by the fact that gambling interests have thrown millions into congressional campaign coffers.
There are a number of links to related stories in the Monitor sidebar.