Recession Affects Indian Casino Industry

The United Auburn Indian Community, which owns the Thunder Valley Casino near Lincoln, will be scaling back a planned expansion in light of the current economic downturn.

Doug Elmets, casino spokesman, said “It's important given the uncertainty about future market demands to look at the situation and reassess the project."

Elmets said the tribe will reconsider parts of the expansion over the next three to six months. Although there were no specific plans, he said, there might be "reductions in the square footage."

The casino broke ground in July on the project that then promised a four- or five-star hotel and a performing arts center.

Elmets said the project still will be completed by 2010 and that employees being affected by the scale-back are those employed by contractors and subcontractors.

"The casino is still a very successful gaming operation," Elmets said. "The same number of people are coming as before, (but) they're just not spending as much money."

Also, The North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians, who signed a Class III gaming compact earlier this year, have had their new casino plans put on hold due to their struggling partner, Station Casinos, who may be looking at filing for bankruptcy.

Chairwoman Elaine Bethel-fink wasn’t sure what would happen if Station Casinos went bankrupt. “This economy was not anticipated” she said.

I believe our local Chumash Casino has seen a slight drop off in revenue but nothing compared to the rest of the industry.

I guess those “marketing signs” along the San Marcos Pass are doing their job… or is it that the Chumash is the only casino around for hundreds of miles. What do you think?

Sources:
http://www.sacbee.com/240/story/1428806.html
http://www.fresnobee.com/local/story/1042799.html