Morongo Indian Tribes Begin Lobbying for Slot Machines

On April 24, 2007, a tribal nation started statewide television advertisement in Southern California to inform state residents of the benefits of adding to the slot machines that are already in place at 5 casino establishments in Southern California.

The 60-second television advertisements were paid for by the Morongo Band of Mission Indian Nation. The advertisements said that if approved, the profits that will come from the new slot machines will help decrease the budget deficit and improve the quality of education, as well as the quality of health care in the state.

The slots advertisements are shown as legislators consider a bill that would permit the 5 Indian tribes, including the Morongo Indian Tribe, to acquire an additional 22,000 slot machines to the 10,000 slot machines that they now offer to their customers.

In return for being allowed to offer more slot machines, the Indian Tribes will give the state about 25% of their profits. Just last week, the California State Senate approved of the gaming compacts, but some Democrats in the Assembly, which have not yet discussed the issue, commented that they are wary about some discrepancies in the provisions of the agreement.

Patrick Dorinson, spokesman of the Morongo Indian Tribe, said that the advertisements are a great buy, but he refuses to comment on how much the tribe spent for them.

Sunday, 06 May 2007
Kori Woffendin