Tribal Gaming - State is Losing a Casino Jackpot in Lost Tax Revenue
Tribal casinos rake in quarters by the millions, yet they largely police themselves. While battling a tough economy, Michigan has lost out on more than $300 million in revenue from Native American casinos since the state's deal with seven tribes allowed them to halt payments, a Free Press analysis has found.The lost revenue could easily double by the time the tribal pact with the state expires in seven years. The tribes were obliged to pay the state a share of profits only as long as they held a slot machine monopoly in Michigan. That monopoly ended when the state opened gambling to other tribes in 1998. The Free Press also found that the state's 17 tribal casinos -- now a billion-dollar industry -- attract almost no scrutiny from state or federal authorities.State officials rarely set foot in the casinos. They almost never check to make sure tribes aren't hiring key casino employees with criminal backgrounds. And they only occasionally examine the books to ensure that tribes pay what was promised to neighboring Michigan communities when tribal gaming was approved in 1993.
May 9, 2006
Posted By Susan Torres
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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