Two gaming initiatives head for California ballot

Wednesday, April 14, 2004  

The Agua Caliente Tribe and a group of racetracks say they will each turn in more than a million signatures of registered voters in order to qualify their gaming initiatives for the November ballot.

The tribe's initiative would subject tribal casinos to an 8.84 tax rate. In exchange, they would be allowed to expand their operations under 99-year compacts.

The racetrack initiative would require all tribes to agree to share 25 percent of slot machine revenues with the state. But if the tribes do not agree, or if the Bureau of Indian Affairs rejects the proposal, the racetracks would be allowed to offer slot machines.

Two other initiatives have not been so successful. Cheryl Schmit of Stand Up for California says she doesn't have enough money to get the signatures. A fourth to allow casinos in the cities of Barstow and Oakland appears to have gotten little support.

Get the Story:
2 casino ballot efforts fold up (The Sacramento Bee 4/13)