Tribal Economy: Fact or Myth?

While gaming is a significant revenue stream for some tribes, it is not the only source of revenue being pursued by Pechanga. The information below will share with you our focus on economic diversity and our efforts to use our revenue for the betterment of our people and the community at large.


Myth


All American Indian Tribes have gaming.

FACT

There are over 560 federally recognized Tribes in the United States and hundreds of other state recognized Tribes. Nearly half do not have gaming at all. In California, 52 Tribes have gaming out of hundreds in the state.

Myth


All Tribes with gaming are rich, and all their members are rich.

FACT

Indian gaming does help diminish the poverty rate of Native people, often by providing decent work, benefits and community infrastructure. It is not a guarantee of individual wealth.
The current national poverty rate among Native American people in the United States is high, with nearly one in four living below the poverty level, according to the 2000 US Census. 13% of tribal nations with gaming represent over 60% of annual gaming revenues nationally, while 130 tribes with gaming earned only 2% of total Indian gaming revenues.

Myth


Tribes operating Casinos are private businesses.

FACT

Tribes are not private businesses, they are governmental businesses. Sovereign Tribal governments, like private states, have the ability to allow gaming operations, such as lotteries, within their borders and to use portions of revenues generated from gaming to help provide essential services to their citizens.
Even so, there are differences. For instance, states are never mandated to share revenues with other states. Tribes, however, are often mandated via the compact process to provide portions of revenue to a state's general fund.

Myth


Tribes don't pay taxes and therefore don't contribute to the well-being of their state or surrounding area.

FACT

Tribal members do pay taxes: those who work off-reservation, or outside of direct tribal government, pay the same income, property and sales taxes that any other American citizen pays. Tribal Governments, like individual states, municipalities, and other units of government are not required to pay corporate taxes to each other. However, gaming Tribes in California are required to pay into state-controlled funds that benefit local communities, the state, and non-gaming tribes. Read more about Tribal community contributions on Economic Impact

Myth


Tribes with gaming don't provide economic benefits to non-natives, or to their neighboring communities.

FACT

Pechanga Tribal members may live on or near our Band's reservation, or may just as easily and appropriately live in surrounding urban communities, across the United States or abroad. Nationally approximately half of tribally enrolled people live on or near reservations and approximately half live off-reservation. In the case of Pechanga approximately 50% of our tribe live on or near the reservation.