The Casino

Most Indian Reservations receive money from the Casino's allowed on their reservations. So last night we went to the Pine Ridge Casino. I had heard this place was small, which made sense because there are no major roads or cities nearby. I was completely underwhelmed. 5 card tables and maybe 500-600 slot machines. No craps, no video poker, nothing but those handful of card tables and slots. There is no way this casino is paying for people across the reservation, but it does provide some good jobs. I ended up making some money at Poker, where the women running the table (women run everything here) was so helpful and friendly. Other Casinos would not have taught me how to play and instructed me when to bet!

Afterwards we went to this bar where I met a few near-reservation whites. Not that they said anything specifically racist, but based on their comments it was pretty clear that the reservation was not the object of their compassion...indeed, he criticized the progress of construction of the Crazy Horse monument, which is privately funded, instead of commenting on how the government or someone should be giving more. "I am not impressed" The feeling is mutual; the dude had his 11 year-old girl there in the lounge the entire time as people drank and sang.