July 14, Indians sign Gaming pact, WHAT does this mean to INB
Indian Tribes Sign Gaming Pacts
Agreements with state allow casino style gambling
Robert B. Gunnison, Chronicle Sacramento Bureau Tuesday, July 14, 1998
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For the first time, Indian tribes with gambling casinos on their lands signed agreements with Governor Pete Wilson yesterday that will allow the gaming facilities to keep operating.
Before the papers were signed in the Capitol, only one tribe, the Pala Band of San Diego County, had signed such a compact with the governor, but it does not yet have a casino.
''These compacts will benefit not only the members of their own tribes, but the California public in general,'' Wilson said in a statement. ''These compacts will allow the tribes to operate legal games in California, while protecting employees and patrons of Indian casinos as well as the surrounding communities.''
Signing in Wilson's office were representatives of the Rumsey Indian Rancheria of Wintun Indians of Yolo County, the Jackson Rancheria of Miwuk Indians of Amador County, the Table Mountain Rancheria of Fresno County, the Cher-Ae Heights Indian Community of the Trinidad Rancheria in Humboldt County and the Mooretown Rancheria in Butte County.
''We are finally one major step closer to our goal of maintaining long-term economic self-sufficiency for our tribal members,'' said Paula Lorenzo, chairwoman of the Rumsey Rancheria.
The biggest tribal casino to sign was Table Mountain, which operates a large gaming operation in Friant, Fresno County.
Four of the tribes are represented by Howard Dickstein, a Sacramento lawyer who also represented the Pala Band.
Federal law requires gaming tribes to reach such compacts with states for casino-style gaming.
Indian gaming has mushroomed nationally in the past decade and now accounts for more than 11 percent of total wagering, while traditional gambling outlets like casinos and race tracks have lost market share.
California has 39 casinos on Indian lands, but, so far, most of them have opposed signing compacts. Instead, they are supporting a measure on the November ballot that would legalize slot machines and banked games at Indian casinos.
When Wilson signed the first compact with the Pala Band, he gave the remainder of the tribes 60 days to sign, or face prosecution.
But Wilson's attempt to enact the compact policy suffered a major setback in the Legislature, under pressure from gaming tribes that want less-stringent regulations.
Late yesterday, three other gaming tribes from the San Diego area, were close to signing compacts, administration officials said.
Central to the compacts signed by the six tribes is an agreement that the casinos will use a video gaming device that will offer a high-speed lottery game.
By using the machines instead of traditional slot machines, the tribes will be within state law that allows lotteries.
The machine is not expected to be developed fully until later this year, so in the meantime, tribes can continue to use their current equipment, which includes slot machines.
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