Here's economic impact of Indian Gaming.
Nationally, 5% of gaming revenues are derived from Indian Gaming,
leaving a large revenue portion for Las Vegas, Laughlin, Atlantic City,
and State Lotteries. Throughout the Nation, only 33% of 557 reservations
operate tribal gaming, which means about 373 reservations do not use
gaming to support their tribal functions. Only a small portion of the
tribal gaming operations raise enough to generate income and the
majority of the Native Americans still live below the poverty level. In
California, there are approximately 102 reservations and of those, only
29% operate gaming facilities leaving a majority of the tribal
governments seeking assistance from the federal government.
Prior to 1986, the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians dwelled in 75%
unemployment. Tribal members were fleeing the reservation in search of a
brighter future. As a whole, Native American Indians are the poorest
racial group throughout the United States. Unemployment rates on
reservations often reach ten times the national average due to the
placement of reservations and past federal policies. According to the
Bureau of Indian Affairs, in 1991 the reservation unemployment rate was
at 45% and some reservations reported a rate of 80%. The average life
span of a Native American Indian is 31 years shorter than the rest of
America. The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, with an eager Tribal
General Council, were set to solidify an economical future that would
ensure subsistence and end the poverty-dependency tandem.
Today, 25% of the Tribe is employed by the business and public
assistance no longer persists on the reservation.
In July 1986, San Manuel opened the Bingo Hall with a seating capacity
of 2,600. "Millions upon millions have been won by thousands of
players." In 1995, approximately $123,000,000.00 was taken home by
players. In April of 1994, the Casino opened with 49 table games. Today,
the Casino, operating 24 hours a day, has 23 poker tables offering
Hold-Em, Omaha, and Stud, 24 San Manuel Twenty-One tables, and two
ThunderCard tables. The Bingo and Casino host over 1,000 Video Pull-Tab
machines, with room to add more. With the Bingo and Casino, San Manuel
hosts over 3,000 people a day. San Manuel Indian Bingo and Casino
promotes an "alcohol and drug free" atmosphere for the players and the
employees. Drug testing occurs periodically to assure that this policy
is strictly enforced. Within the Bingo Hall, San Manuel offers a glass
enclosed non-smoking section that is located upstairs.
In 1996, over 4,000 applicants inquired about employment and currently
San Manuel Indian Bingo and Casino employs more than 1,400 employees
deriving from five counties. This fact makes San Manuel Indian Bingo and
Casino one of the top employers in San Bernardino and Riverside
counties. In compliance with the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988,
all employees must have a background investigation conducted by the San
Manuel Gaming Commission. The purpose of this Commission is to allow the
Tribe to self-regulate their business to insure that all functions
operate without any criminal elements being involved.
In a recent study titled "The Economic Impact of the Gaming Industry" by
Dr. Michael Evans, who is one of the nation's foremost econometricians,
illustrates that all gaming directly employed 337,000 people and 328,000
people indirectly. This article exemplifies the tax issue by showing
that gaming added $5.9 billion to federal taxes and $2 billion to state
and local governments. "Even with no new casinos opened in the next
decade, direct employment in the casino industry is expected to rise an
average 7.5 percent per year to a total of 696,000...$17.7 billion in
federal taxes and $3 billion in state and local taxes by the year 2005."
San Manuel Indian Bingo and Casino supports the local businesses by
helping to create a stable economy. In 1995, San Manuel contributed
around $32 Million into the local community for food and services by
using approximately 641 vendors. The Department of Commerce estimates
that for every million spent on goods and services, 42 jobs are created.
By purchases alone, 1,344 jobs have been created by San Manuel Indian
Bingo and Casino. It is estimated that San Manuel Indian Bingo and
Casino brings around 80,000 people a year into the area, thus giving
area businesses a chance to prosper through tourism. With 1,400
employees, the payroll at San Manuel is $26,186,351.00 and $2.3 million
is estimated for payroll taxes and unemployment benefits which is around
$231,568.11. Another $1.1 million is spent on employee medical and
dental insurances.
San Manuel Indian Bingo and Casino offers their staff a benefit package
that surpasses any other operation. Programs for employees include
training seminars, first aid programs, insurance programs, drug testing
and travel. There is also a company picnic, Christmas Carnival for the
employees and community, Employee of the Month, a raffle for employees
and an Employee of the Year dinner. San Manuel Indian Bingo and Casino
spends approximately $1,700,000.00 for these programs. With such high
volumes of visitors and employees in San Manuel, the Public Safety staff
provides protection and comfort. The Public Safety Department is home to
security and surveillance which comprises a staff of 190 people. The
Public Safety Department is one area that San Manuel Indian Bingo and
Casino consistently improves through technology and high standards of
hiring.
In 1995, the San Manuel Indian Bingo and Casino made approximately
$303,000.00 in charitable contributions. A few months before the closing
of 1996, San Manuel Indian Bingo and Casino donated roughly $295,000.00.
These charitable donations are made to local cities, school systems, as
well as various groups, such as the local Y.M.C.A.'s League of Women
Voters, Little League Baseball, various foundations, V.F.W.'s, Feed the
Children, Alternatives of Domestic Violence, Victory Out Reach, San
Bernardino County Library and other local groups and programs.
Arthur Anderson, one of the leading accounting firms in the United
States and part of the Big 6 Accounting Agencies, conducts the audits
for the San Manuel Indian Bingo and Casino on a regular cycle. These
analyses are submitted to the Tribal General Council for review. |
