Senate report estimates losses for Lytton Band casino

Monday, September 19, 2005  

The Lytton Band of Pomo Indians will lose between $50 million and $100 million over the next five years if the tribe isn't allow to operate Class II games at its casino in the Bay Area, according to a newly released report from the Senate Indian Affairs Committee.

The report [PDF] accompanies S.113. The bill would prevent the tribe from conducting gaming on its land without going through a lengthy federal and state review process that could take several years.

The tribe has already installed between 500 and 1,000 Class II machines at the casino. The report cites an estimate from the Congressional Budget Office that was based on 500 machines.

The report also includes a letter from the Department of Justice that says the bill would not violate the tribe's constitutional rights. The tribe says passage of bill constitutes an illegal "taking" under the 5th Amendment.

Get the Story:
Committee calls bluff on casino rights (The Oakland Tribune 9/17)