Tesuque named its casino and hotel Camel Rock after the distinctive camellike rock formation in the area. Casino jobs have motivated pueblo members to stay in school and continue on to college, Dorame said. And now, tribal scholarships are available, he said. I'm really excited about these kids having that opportunity. Unemployment at Tesuque is down to about 2 percent, Dorame said, compared with the 25 percent he remembers in the 1960s.
Dickie sees a strong tourism draw in the pueblo resort phenomenon.
I think because of the climate and the beauty of the Southwest, number one. There are a lot of positive things they've done. But most of the tribes' gambling windfall, so far, has come from in-state communities that lose revenue, he said. If resorts sprout and visitors come from around the country, that could outweigh the local money spent at casinos, he said. Now I see the potential for benefits.