It was an answer that Jesus Tarango appeared eager to give. Because he meant it.
In a forum at SBC Summit Americas 2025 in May focused on the legalization of sports betting in California, the Wilton Rancheria chairman was asked, along with his fellow panelists, the greatest misperception about the Native American gambling business that persists outside of reservations.
“That we’re all rich, we’re all rich casino Indians,” he said. “‘You guys have ten cars and you’re just living a great life.’ And that’s not the reality for us.”
Not for most tribes, including Tarango’s, which opened its first casino in Northern California in 2022.
