United Auburn has threatened to withhold the $33 million it annually pays California, citing a clause in its compact with the state that gives it exclusivity on electronic gambling machines in its market area.

Now, we are not here to argue that the neighborhood senior center should be allowed to build a glittering gambling palace to compete with the tribes.

But reason needs to prevail. If electronic machines are now favored by those who like to play a little bingo while helping out a good cause, so be it.

The Legislature needs to make it clear that electronic bingo machines are legal outside of tribal lands, while regulating the number of such machines and the payouts to be consistent with the traditional notion of small-stakes, charitable bingo in contrast with the large-scale professional gambling operations run by tribes.

And the tribes – including our local Viejas band, which has expressed concern to the state about electronic bingo – need to look at things more clearly.

Regulated, low-stakes charitable bingo poses no threat to the games operated by Native Americans – whether the players mark up paper cards or find I-19 on a bright, high-tech screen.

© Copyright 2008 Union-Tribune Publishing Co.