The tribes argued that the laws on gambling were civil regulatory laws, not criminal, and therefore tribal laws would not fall under the lawful jurisdiction of the state. We felt that this fight needed to be waged.” “But we continued to push, and it was important that we didn’t give up. “Some folks in Indian Country told us to quit because they thought we were risking too much,” Martin said. By 1983, the Morongo tribe had opened a modest bingo hall on its property.Īfter attempts by the state and Riverside County to shut down the bingo halls and card room, the case ended up inside the Supreme Court as with the Cabazon and Morongo Band of Mission Indians and their lawyers Glenn Feldman and George Forman fighting against the state of California in December 1986.Īs word traveled that the dispute was reaching the highest court, there was some hesitation and fear in tribal communities that a decision could cause harm if the tribes lost the case. The Cabazon and Morongo tribes started experimenting with bingo halls and card rooms as revenue opportunities. “Even then, we found ourselves in a situation where we weren’t getting a fair deal, and there was a pretty high unemployment rate,” Martin said.

They also tried to generate income with cattle and agriculture but said neither venture was enough. The Morongo Band of Mission Indians provided land leases for Southern California Edison and Southern California Gas, Charles Martin, the tribe’s chairman, said in a telephone interview.

Morongo casino job fair