Few stories feel as good as those of troubled towns managing to pull themselves out of the doldrums and engineer an economic turnaround. And when bingo plays a role in the about-face, there's that much more to rejoice about. The introduction of slots-style bingo gaming to the Pomo Indian tribe's San Pablo Casino in northern California has proved a boon for the city of San Pablo, which has benefited from the resulting influx of millions of dollars in gaming revenue.

Until last summer, Casino San Pablo was pretty much a run-of-the-mill card room, with local yokels grinding it out at the tables. The winds of change blew in with fierce gusts and gales, however, once the 280-member tribe installed bingo machines in the casino. Tax revenue has almost tripled since last summer, with the bingo machine intake accounting for the majority of an estimated $9 million cut for City Hall, which amounts to about half of its annual operating budget. No longer stuck for cash, city officials have been able to invest in their town for the benefit of local residents, cutting utility taxes and hiring more policemen. In addition, the sudden bingo-generated cash windfall has allowed the City Council to almost completely emerge from debt and begin planning for a new community center and sports park.

Naturally, the Pomo tribe has also emerged a big winner, using its cut of the bingo profits to cover daycare costs, guarantee health coverage, and subsidize higher education tuition for its 280 members, who also benefit from a reasonably-sized dividend check each month.