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Despite dire past predictions-or, in the case of gambling opponents, hopes - for their demise, nearly every Indian gaming casino in the state is undergoing some sort of expansion or has plans to expand in the near future. Several of the state's 11 gaming tribes have undertaken massive, multi-million dollar construction projects that include on-site hotels, golf courses and, in one case, even a rodeo arena. Others are making more modest changes - buying off-site hotels to accommodate out-of-town gamblers, for example, or adding some extra floor space, more slot machines and maybe a few other table games.

Regardless of scope, the sheer volume of casino expansion confirms what has long been the conventional wisdom: Indian gaming is big business in New Mexico and is almost certainly here to stay. Even the Legislature, which waged a protracted, futile fight against a tide of gambling supporters that included Governor Gary Johnson, gave up its opposition two years ago by a single vote and is now trying to cash in on the booty with a hefty - and thus far elusive - 16 percent cut of all slot machine proceeds.

Meanwhile, formerly impoverished tribes are struggling doggedly to keep up with the momentum, using gambling revenues to upgrade their casinos. What's left goes toward infrastructure improvement, education, healthcare and social programs. Though the tribes themselves still lag behind the national economy, they're keenly aware of leading economic indicators that place more expendable income in the wallets of other Americans.

"There's a window of opportunity here that never existed before," says Jerry Grissom, general manager of Taos Mountain Casino. "The tribes have a business opportunity - other than some of their (previous) endeavors - that they need to take advantage of. In the past it's been, you know, we can sell cigarettes."

These days, however, Taos Mountain Casino might attract as many as 1,000 gamblers on a weeknight, especially during special promotions. After only five years, the casino's slot machines have grown from 10 to 137 and will expand to 300 by the end of 1999, when it moves to the nearby Kachina Lodge. As of early October, Taos Pueblo was negotiating to buy the 118-room hotel located a mile south on North Pueblo Road.

The move will not only give the casino desirable roadside exposure, but it will provide ample floor space (more then triple its current 4,000 square feet) to accommodate the additional 163 slot machines. This will not only represent a move out, from the pueblo into the community, but also a move up - upscale, that is. The aim, says Grissom, is to turn the Kachina Lodge into a "four-star hotel and restaurant" attractive not only to a local clientele, which sports a decidedly sophisticated palate, but also to tourists.

While Taos' plans are ambitious in quality, they're relatively minor in scale compared to those of San Juan Pueblo, for example, whose Tsay Corporation is transforming the humble little Ohkay Casino into what general manager Travis Carrico calls a "Las Vegas-style" gambling resort. The initial two-phase, $22 million project includes a brandnew, 64,000-sq. ft. casino already operating with 750 slot machines, 17 tables and a lounge featuring live entertainment. That's more than double the size of the original temporary structure, a 27,000 sq. ft. pre-fabricated bubble housing 310 slot machines and six game tables.

Attached to the new casino is a 63,000 sq. ft,. 101-room hotel that Carrico said will eventually expand to 300 rooms after phase two is completed. Meanwhile, the pueblo plans to build a 4,500-seat rodeo arena by the end of the year to host the Eight Northern Pueblos' annual arts and crafts fair and possibly even outdoor concerts in addition to rodeos. Future plans might also include an 18-hole golf course, a bowling alley and possibly a 1,500-seat concert hall/convention center.

"Obviously the goal of the tribe is to create a destination resort," explained Carrico, who anticipates a 70 percent-30 percent mix of locals and tourists. Currently, locals comprise about 90 percent of the casino's patrons, he said, adding, "But the hotel will change that."

Santa Ana, which is undergoing its second expansion since July, has similar aspirations for its Star Casino, which also caters primarily to locals at present. Within two years, however, the tribe anticipates opening a brand new Hyatt hotel on the pueblo. This will be an additional draw for tourists attracted to the casino's 1,000 slot machines, expanded table games area, separate poker room, lounge with nightly entertainment, all-you-can-eat buffet, and smoke and gift shop. Add to the mix the already established Santa Ana Golf Club and you've got a ready-made tourist destination.

The Laguna Development Corp., owned by the Laguna Pueblo. announced recently that construction began on its new Dancing Eagle Casino on Interstate 40, about 45 minutes west of Albuquerque. The 21,266 sq. ft. casino will 319 slots, 10 table games, a restaurant and gift shop and expects to open in February of 2000. It forecasts the employment of 275 persons and an annual payroll of $5 million.

Meanwhile, Acoma's Sky City Casino more than doubled in size this year and next year will add a 150-room hotel and 100-space RV park; Isleta Pueblo broke ground in August for a new casino with a hotel and convention center in its future; Sandia Pueblo will begin construction in November on an upscale replacement casino to be incorporated in a resort featuring a first-class hotel and links-style golf, scheduled to open by spring 2001; and Tesuque Pueblo recently bought a hotel on Santa Fe's south side to accommodate out-of-state gamblers at its Camel Rock Casino.

Although most of these projects got under way only recently, they've been in the works for a long time, says seasoned lobbyist Odis Echols, who currently represents Isleta and Sandia pueblos.

"Most of the tribes planned from the very beginning to expand their facilities-golf courses, hotels, etc. - to bring in tourists and conventions," explained Echols, who has counted among his clients nearly all of New Mexico's gaming tribes at one time or another. "Their entire plan started out from that premise (so) they would be an economic boost to the state of New Mexico."

Echols blames the delay in part on the 16 percent revenue sharing agreement the Legislature required as a condition for legalizing gambling two years ago. Gaming tribes claim the percentage is illegally high and few have paid up, though several tribes have placed their payments in escrow pending the outcome of ongoing arbitration. Previously, the tribes were reluctant to expand until they felt secure the U.S. attorney wouldn't close them down for operating illegally. It wasn't until Sept. 10, when the state Supreme Court threw out a challenge to the 1997 law legalizing gambling in New Mexico, that the future of Indian gaming in New Mexico, or at least its legality, became fixed. Those tribes that began expanding their operations before knowing the outcome took a gamble-and won.

TAMAR STIEBER, A SANTA FE-based FREELANCE WRITER, REPORTS FREQUENTLY FOR THE NEW MEXICO BUSINESS JOURNAL.

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