This was so amazing, I had to copy a potion of the article. Does this guy know how to side-step questions, or is it obvious, he "ain't" talking.

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Harlan Goodson is director of the Division of Gambling Control, (California) which is part of Lockyer's Justice Department. Here are portions of an interview with him last month:

Question: In the last year, how many investigations has your office initiated on fraud or theft?

Goodson: "I don't know the answer to that question. We have not initiated any investigations in fraud or theft."

How many hours of undercover work have you done?

"I'm not going to answer that question."

How many arrests have been made relating to Indian gambling?

"That's a local issue. You'll have to check with the sheriff."

How many complaints of fraud have come from patrons or employees?

"That's a local issue. I don't know."

How many key employees are in the tribal casinos?

"Somewhere between 10,000 and 15,000."

How many names have been turned over to you by the tribes for checking?

"I think we've got about 1,200 applications in house."

How many completed investigations have been turned over to the [California Indian Gambling] Commission?

"Something in the neighborhood of 300."

So, what is the problem with the gap there?

"I don't understand the question."

In other words, in the last three years, you've got 10,000 to 15,000 to check, you've done 1,200, and only 300 have been turned over as completed.

"I don't have the staff to handle that. They were dumped on us all at once."

On May 7 and May 18, 2001, did you send letters to all the gambling tribes to advise them you were going to be visiting them to do an updated count of gaming devices and review of compliance?

"I don't know."

If you had done that, would that have been proper?

"If I had done it, it would have been proper."

The compact says you only have to notify the tribes when you reach the door. Correct?

"I don't have the compact in front of me."

Doesn't it make sense in law enforcement, that if you're counting machines to make sure there are not too many, you don't tell them you're coming, so they can't remove them?

"I don't know whether that makes sense or not."

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With everywhere except AC and NV the tribes monitor themselves. While I am in favor of tribal casinos, and open gaming, I wonder about the potential for abuse when the casinos are left to watch their own accounting, gaming and regulation.