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Idaho Casino Tribe Reaps Benefits

WORLEY, Idaho (AP) -- At a remote crossroads east of Spokane, Wash., the Coeur d'Alene Tribe of Indians has taken control of its economic destiny.

"The tribe's decade-old casino is thriving and growing. It has virtually eliminated unemployment on the reservation and provides an annual payment to each of the 1,900 tribal members.

"With a new 18-hole golf course, and an expanded hotel and casino under construction, the complex near the intersection of U.S. 95 and Idaho Highway 58 has become the destination resort the tribe envisioned when it first opened a small bingo hall in 1993.

"…Indeed, while many Indian tribes were shunted to remote, hardscrabble reservations after signing treaties, the Coeur d'Alenes got 345,000 acres in the forested mountains and lush valleys of northern Idaho. They also own the lower one-third of scenic Lake Coeur d'Alene and are close to the cities of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, and Spokane, Wash.

"…The bulk of the tribe's gambling profits go to government, education and social programs, [David Matheson, chief executive officer of the tribe's gaming operations,] said. Some of the money is used to buy land to expand the reservation.

"..Unemployment, once more than 70 percent among tribal members, is basically zero, tribal officials said…"

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