Two California tribes are contributing $1 million to help defeat four new gaming compacts.

The Pala Band of Mission Indians and the United Auburn Indian Community say the new deals will hurt tribes with smaller casinos. They say the compacts allow four tribes with large casinos to become even larger at the expense of others.

Most other tribes in the state disagree. The California Nations Indian Gaming Association, which represents more than 50 gaming and non-gaming tribes, and the 14-member Tribal Alliance of Sovereign Indian Nations passed resolutions in support of the new compacts.

The Pala Band and the Auburn Community signed deals in 2004 that allow them to add more slot machines. But they agreed to more restrictive revenue-sharing provisions.

The $1 million donation will be used to gather signatures for a ballot referendum to overturn legislative approval of the new compacts.

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Some tribes say deals will sink smaller casinos (Copley News Service 8/27)