the Business
Tribal gaming expansions continue , with no end in sight
By Patrick Roberts
The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act ( IGRA ), passed by Congress in 1988 , was designed to give Native Americans a chance to participate in gaming businesses that were already legal within their states .
It started with bingo . Then gaming machines were developed that determined winners by virtual bingo cards . Later , as casinos spread across the country , tribes were permitted to offer full-scale casino gaming . ( In Connecticut , the tribes got this right because the state had legalized “ Las Vegas nights ” for charity , and a court ruled that IGRA still applied .)
In the early days , tribes housed their casinos in inexpensive buildings — trailers , tent-like “ Sprung ” structures , or even converted warehouses . A few years later they added hotels , restaurants and a limited number of non-gaming amenities .
Today , the second and third wave of tribal gaming is under way . Once-small casinos have become integrated resorts , comparable to world-class facilities in Las Vegas . When it comes to reinvestment , competition — both with commercial properties and other tribal operations — has sometimes forced their hands . But the desire to offer more than just gambling is often a goal of these expansions .
In November alone , five tribes celebrated expansions or relocations of their current facilities .
Major Milestone
The Paskenta Band of the Nomlaki Indians celebrated the 25th anniversary of the tribe ’ s official restoration with a multimillion-dollar expansion and remodel of its Rolling Hills Casino in Corning , California .
Tribal Chairman Andrew “ Dru ” Alejandre said the expansion idea goes back to the change in tribal leadership in 2014 , and management staff was hired with growth in mind .
“ We were looking for a general manager with knowledge of expanding casinos ,” Alejandre told the Red Bluff Daily News . “ It will provide more opportunities for our community and for us in the tribe to give back to the community .”
General Manager Steve Neely said the expansion will increase the gaming
area by 40 percent , bring in two new restaurants , redesign and expand conference facilities , and give the entire casino a facelift . Rock & Brews and Fatburger restaurants will be opened in the remodeled facility ; Neely said the addition allows the casino to offer something not found in this part of the state . Rock & Brews is expected to open in the summer of 2020 and Fatburger in January 2021 .
Construction will take place in phases to allow the casino , which opened in 2002 , to continue operating with minimal disruption . Completion of all phases is expected to take 14 months , with many of the changes in place during the summer of 2020 .
“ The 25th anniversary of restoration and recognition by the federal government marks a watershed date for our tribe as we look to the future ,” Alejandre said . “ The recent opening of our new outdoor amphitheater and our new partnerships with major food and hospitality brands solidified the tribe ’ s commitment to being a valued economic community partner for the North State .”
Through the Paskenta Nomlaki Foundation , the tribe has turned revenues from the casino into grants of more than $ 6.7 million in Tehama County . Funding has gone to local medical facilities , the building of a Tribal Community and Senior Citizens Center , donations of fire and law enforcement resources and the creation of recreational programs in Corning .
The gaming area will expand to the east and south on the property to en-
40 CASINO STYLE 2019