Gambling and Indian Tribes
As Shinnecock Indians returned to their reservation on Long Island after World War II, elders warned that their tribe’s long struggle for survival was once again threatened.
Decent jobs were scarce and many Shinnecock veterans were leaving, draining the reservation of needed hands. …
Now this small tribe on the eastern end of Long Island is on the verge of sketching a new, perhaps more prosperous chapter. The Obama administration’s recent announcement that the Shinnecocks met the criteria for federal recognition finally paves the way for a casino, generating a bounty of jobs and revenue.
The odd fact raised by this story is that the U.S. pays restitution to Indian Tribes by giving them monopoly rights (within a given state or area) to sell casino gambling services.
Here’s a different approach: legalize all gambling. Then have an honest debate about whether, or how much, the U.S. should pay restitution to Native Americans.
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