Reno struggling, Indians getting rich

There's a lot of room to breathe in the casinos in Reno. Gamblers are not showing up in anywhere near the numbers of yesteryear -- in the days before Indian casinos began popping up all over northern California, where most of Reno's customers came from.

But head west across the Sierra range and you'll find crowds aplenty at the huge Thunder Valley Casino in Lincoln, a short drive from Sacramento, and about a two-hour drive away from Reno with no need to cross Donner Pass to get there.

Thunder Valley, with 2,600 slots and 98 gaming tables, is owned by the 255-member Auburn United Indian Community tribe, of which only five work at the casino. While the casinos in Reno struggle to make ends meet with far fewer visitors, the members of the once poverty-stricken Auburn tribe are getting rich. Estimates are that each member of the community now receives between $300,00 and $500,000 a year as their share of the casino's profits.

Thunder Valley angered the RV community last year when it banned RVs from its parking lots.

New casino with RV park opens in SW Colorado

The Sky Ute Casino Resort and Conference Center has opened in Ignacio, Colo., at the hub of Southwest Colorado's gas-production fields and the home of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe. Nestled in the shadow of the San Juan Mountains, the casino has 540 slot machines, 12 table games, a 180-seat bingo hall, 24-lane AMF bowling center, an 18-hole mini golf course, and 24-site RV park. The RV park features WiFi Internet access, showers, laundry facilities, access to the resort's lazy river and pool and fitness center, and spectacular views of the nearby HD and La Plata mountains.

The multimillion-dollar complex is about 20 miles southeast of Durango, Colo. on state highway 172 near the San Juan National Forest. It's the largest hotel/casino in the Four Corners region, where southwestern Colorado, northwestern New Mexico, northeastern Arizona, and southeastern Utah briefly adjoin.

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Mesquite, Nev., casino closes. RV park to remain open

The economic recession has claimed another casualty, this time the Oasis Casino in the town of Mesquite, Nevada, which will close -- at least temporarily -- Friday, December 5. Nearly a quarter of the company's workforce, 500 people, will lose their jobs during the holiday season and possibly beyond. In addition to the casino floor, all restaurants, and the nightclub at Oasis will also close. The attached hotel, RV park, golf course, and gun club will remain open. Customer rewards points will still be redeemable at other Black Gaming properties in Mesquite, the Casablanca and Virgin River Hotel and Casino.

Mesquite is located on the Nevada-Utah border along I-15, northeast of Las Vegas.