Arnold Schwarzenegger recently joined a group of residents and the county in criticizing an environmental report produced by the Pauma Band of Mission Indians on a planned USD 300 million casino and hotel. An attorney for the governor said in a letter dated September 21 that the tribe’s report is incomplete and not supported by sufficient analysis or evidence. The letter said that the tribe has not adequately addressed the project’s effects on water usage, community aesthetics or police and fire services.

A crowd big enough to fill a pro sports arena is expected here Saturday for that quintessential rural New England event, the Town Meeting. Generally no more than a few hundred people attend such meetings, even on hot issues, but officials are preparing for three-quarters of this town of 20,000 to show up. Residents will be marking paper ballots on whether to accept a deal with an Indian tribe to build a [[USD]] 1 billion casino.

Topeka, Kansas -- The four American Indian tribes that run casinos in Kansas are discussing ways to respond to competition if state-owned gaming complexes open in a few years. Three of the tribes are planning to bid on the state-owned casinos to keep as many customers as possible, while a fourth is considering suing the state to stop expansion of gambling in Kansas.

Washington -- Indian gambling pulled in USD 25 billion in 2006, 11 percent more than the year before as the industry's explosive growth outpaced Las Vegas. Federal figures announced Monday, compiled from 387 tribal facilities in 28 states, show Indian gambling revenue has nearly doubled in five years. Indian casinos brought in USD 12.8 billion from gambling in 2001, USD 22.5 billion in 2005 and USD 25.1 billion in 2006, according to the National Indian Gaming Commission.

Employees of 2 casinos run by the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes in Oklahoma will take over management after a 5-year contract extension with an outside contractor was nullified. Tribal Governor Darrell Flyingman says control will pass Saturday from the management team of Minneapolis-based Southwest Casino and Hotel Ventures to the casino staff.