California tribes seek to block gaming initiative

Wednesday, April 21, 2004  

A group of California tribes is asking the state Supreme Court to invalidate a proposed ballot initiative that would allow slot machines at card clubs and racetracks.

The five tribes, which have reportedly spent $1.5 million each to battle the initiative, say it violates state and federal law. They filed a petition with the court yesterday.

The initiative requires tribes with casinos to share 25 percent of their slot machine proceeds. But if any tribe refuses, or the Bureau of Indian Affairs rejects the terms, the card clubs and racetracks would be allowed to run slot machines.

Several card clubs and tracks are sponsoring the initiative. They turned in more than 1 million signatures last Friday in hopes of qualifying for the ballot.

The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians turned in more than 1 million signatures to put its own initiative on the ballot. The proposal would impose a 8.84 tax rate on casinos in exchange for expanded gaming.

Get the Story:
Indian groups sue to stop ballot initiative on gambling (The San Jose Mercury News 4/21)
Tribes target ballot measure (The Sacramento Bee 4/21)
Tribes File Suit to Halt Gaming Initiative Plan (The Los Angeles Times 4/21)
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Initiatives offer names, await state ballot spots (The Riverside Press-Enterprise 4/21)
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