California is the largest tribal casino gaming State in the U.S. And while the State has received billions in tax dollars from tribal casino revenue, an appeals court has ruled that the California Gambling Control Commission has not done their job to ensure that tribes are actually coughing up what they are supposed to. Stemming from a lawsuit filed by a former gambling watchdog claiming that California Gambling Control Commission has inadvertently allowed over $300 in tax payments to fall under the radar, the appeals decision now forces the Attorney General's Office to decide the next course of action.

According to the ruling, the practices of the Commission permit tribes to determine their own methods for calculating profit which directly influence adjusted figures sent to the State. Furthermore, out of twenty-eight tribes sending their annual financial reports into the Commission, only one audit was undertaken. The ruling states that these practices fall short of ensuring that casino tribes are paying back the appropriate amount of funds required by State law.

And while Governor Schwarzenegger is calling for more slot machines in order to generate greater tax revenue, the ruling now questions whether more slot machines are necessary to generate the figures Schwarzenegger is calling for if proper auditing practices are in place. The Attorney General's office is still reviewing the appeals decision.

The biggest irony of all is that four tribes recently coughed up $11 million to a campaign committee formed to mitigate efforts seeking to reverse recently amended casino agreements in favor of the tribes. According to Secretary of State's office, $10 million was equally contributed to the campaign by the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians and Morongo Band of Mission Indians, while $1 million was equally contributed to by the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians and Sycuan Band of Kumeyaay Indians. Apparently, California casino tribes still have plenty of money in the bank.