The future of gambling! It isn't Vegas and it isn't Atlantic City

The Revel casino opened in Atlantic City in April, 2012, as a promise to revitalize the area and bring new jobs and cash flow. Now the $2.4 billion, 57 story Casino is closed, and is just another eyesore.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online)- Vegas is also feeling the malaise by America's declining inclination to gamble in mega cities that cater to the tourist crowd. In the U.S., 80% of states have legalized gambling in some form.

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Still, in the growing reality of legal gambling, Las Vegas and Atlantic City are just part of the issue.

While a community has the right to give its opinions and support or oppose any new commercial casinos, Indian casinos lack the same oversight, both locally, statewide and federally.

Traditional casinos have seen massive growth since the 2000s. In 2012 there were 513 commercial casinos in the U.S. and their revenues reached upwards of $37 billion.

Indian casinos aren't far behind. In 2013 there were 466 Indian casinos in 39 states, and their revenue was a little above $26 billion. These casinos do not have to deal with the same lawmakers and bureaucracy that commercial ventures do, so long as the casino is on their land. It is much more difficult to remove an Indian casino, thanks to legal protection with their tribal sovereignty, unless an Indian casino goes out of business it is there for good.

Back in 1987, the U.S. Supreme Court expanded tribal sovereignty with the California v. Cabazon Band of Mission Indians. The Supreme Court ruled that unless a state had a current-as-of-then law that made gambling illegal, they could not outlaw Indian gaming.

The U.S. Congress did quickly respond. They passed the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act in 1988, which limited Indian casinos to "such lands (as) are within or contiguous to the boundaries of the reservation of the Indian tribe on October 17, 1988."

Even this may not be enough to stop the encroachment of gambling into communities and their everyday life.

Numerous Indian tribes have been purchasing land, sometimes hundreds of miles from their reservations in order to access a more favorable market. Usually, these lands are near cities, and threaten to bring gambling closer and closer to homes and families.

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