Capitol Weekly’s Top 100: James Siva

No. 66 James Siva

If James Siva only was the chair of the California Nations Indian Gaming Association, otherwise known as CNIGA, the nonprofit that represents California’s gaming tribes, or only the long-time vice chair of the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, which owns and operates the towering Morongo Casino, Resort & Spa north of Palm Springs, he’d still have the cachet to make this list. But he’s both, so you know he’s more than deserving. An outspoken advocate for tribal sovereignty, Siva has been at the forefront of the tribes’ ongoing fights to protect their turf from interlopers near and far, which have focused more lately on cardrooms from within the state and less on out-of-state businesses like DraftKings and FanDuel. But you can bet whoever challenges the tribes will hear from Siva, who offers up unapologetically bold and blunt quotes that scribes like us love.

Updated August 11, 2026