• Responsibility

    Native Americans Benefit From Pechanga Band Revenues


    The Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians in California, are one of many federally recognized native tribes who have realized the promise of tribal gaming to improve the welfare of their people – and who are sharing their success with others in need.

    Because tribal governments have a sovereign, government-to-government relationship with the United States, they are not taxed on the revenues they generate, just as state and local governments are not taxed. Instead, under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988, tribes use governmental gaming revenues to deliver critical programs and services such as healthcare, education, housing, and water. The Act also provides that tribes may use their revenues for charitable contributions.

    The Pechanga Band takes a broad and generous view of the use of gaming revenues. They fund government activities of all types, including services for children and elderly, and economic development on tribal land in California. The Pechanga Band’s charitable contributions also include many national Native American charitable organizations. Over $25 million has been provided by Pechanga to the City of Temecula and County of Riverside for additional public safety services and road improvements, and more than $15 million has been donated to local schools and hundreds of regional non-profit groups working to build a stronger community. This generosity is made possible due to the Pechanga Band’s success in seizing the opportunity to improve the lives of both Natives and non-Natives in local and wider communities.