Historically, Native Americans have been one of the least advantaged ethnic groups in the United States. From those challenging times, the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians has risen into financial self-sufficiency — now a major economic engine at the tribal, county, and state level. Our thriving industry promotes employment, tourism, and charitable giving within the local region and beyond.
The revenues we earn from our Chumash Casino Resort are used to support vital government programs for our tribal members. We invest in education for our children, advanced health care, and the revitalization of our culture — all with the promise of securing a vibrant future for generations to come.
In addition to enhancing the lives of our tribal members and descendants, Chumash gaming revenues have also helped improve the lives of residents of Santa Barbara County.
As the major employer in the Santa Ynez Valley, the Chumash Casino Resort provides jobs for nearly 1,800 residents in Santa Barbara County. These jobs help generate state and local taxes, while the casino promotes job growth and stability through the use of local vendors and businesses.
Due to the draw of our casino resort and hospitality offerings, Santa Barbara County has experienced a steady boon in tourism as the area welcomes millions of visitors each year.
Additionally, through the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians Foundation, we have contributed more than $25 million to the community and helped enhance the lives of many residents in Santa Barbra County.
We proudly bolster county services through charitable giving, increased business revenue, and the tribe’s thriving economic presence.
California has benefitted tremendously from the rise of Indian Gaming. In 2014 alone, tribal gaming generated a record $7.8 billion in economic output, added $5 billion in value to the California economy, and produced nearly $400 million in state and local tax revenue.
Beyond this incredible boon to the state, the tribal gaming industry is also a powerful economic engine at the national scale. From its humble beginnings, the industry has grown to a $30 billion business, generating approximately 738,000 jobs and $1.7 billion in federal, state, and local taxes.
As the tribe’s economic impact continues to improve at every level, our success translates to the revitalization of our culture and sustainability of future generations.