Radio show host apologizes The critic of Indian gaming tells listeners he's sorry for having gambled in a casino last year

Radio talk-show host Michael DelGiorno, a critic of Indian gaming, apologized to his listeners Monday, one week after details of his banishment from Creek Nation casinos became public.

DelGiorno was banished a year ago after he allegedly was caught taking poker chips.

"My request for your forgiveness comes with this intention," DelGiorno said during his Monday morning talk show on KFAQ (1170 AM): "I intend to not ever gamble in the future, and I intend to not even place myself in a position where I might be tempted to gamble in the future, and I just hope you will understand and support me in this effort."

DelGiorno often touts his religious beliefs and discusses social issues, including American Indian tribes and gaming.

On various shows, DelGiorno has told listeners he doesn't believe in gambling and that Indian casinos are destroying the state's economy, and he has referred to American Indians as "Injuns."

The Creek Nation released documents last week regarding an Aug. 29, 2005, incident involving DelGiorno at its casino at 81st Street and Riverside Drive.

The tribe also played a security camera videotape that shows DelGiorno losing a hand at the blackjack table and taking several poker chips from the dealer's pile before leaving the table.

An incident report said that when security officials confronted DelGiorno, "he advised he didn't realize he had done that."

Subsequently, the Creek Nation Office of Public Gaming held a hearing and banished DelGiorno from the tribe's casinos for five years, the maximum allowed under the tribe's code, records show.

DelGiorno did not appear at the hearing, records show.

DelGiorno also was told to leave another casino, the Cherokee Casino in Catoosa, earlier the same day last year.

Records show that he allegedly made sexually inappropriate remarks to a male dealer about a nearby female dealer.

When asked by the Tulsa World about the Creek Nation incident, DelGiorno initially denied any knowledge of it until he was informed that a tape existed.

He then said he had to get approval from Journal Broadcast Group Inc., which owns KFAQ, before commenting.

Jim Campbell, vice president of marketing for Journal Broadcast Group, would not comment on the matter Monday.

"Anything between Michael and the company would be a personnel matter that we would not discuss," Campbell said.

On his show Monday, DelGiorno said he would not address "specifics of the story" and did not mention allegations that he took poker chips or sexually harassed a dealer.

"For some of you, for me to have even gone to a casino or to gamble would be perceived as hypocritical, and I want you to know I agree that it is," he told listeners.

DelGiorno then said he went into a casino last year to conduct research.

"A year ago, I went into a casino originally thinking to myself to see what games are being played, to stay informed, to be able to talk about it, perhaps even write a book about it," he said, "but then I started playing, and I know now that I never should have gone to a casino."

DelGiorno is the author of one book, "Standing Up for What's Right," according to a biography on his station's Web site.

"I also feel like I have embarrassed a God who I take serving very seriously," he said Monday. "Probably that's who I am most embarrassed for."

After his Monday show, DelGiorno did not return telephone calls seeking further comment.

Robert Anquoe, president of the nonprofit Tulsa Indian Club, said Monday that DelGiorno should apologize for his previous comments about American Indians.

Anquoe said he sent an e-mail to KFAQ asking for an apology but received no response.

"Being a talk-show host on the radio and of course lambasting the Indian issues -- for me to read what he is doing is basically appalling," Anquoe said.

DelGiorno's apology Monday did not address his previous comments regarding American Indians.

"He should issue one (apology), especially to the Tulsa Indian community," Anquoe said.