Five California newspapers are urging voters to vote "yes" on four Class III gaming compacts that are on the February 5 ballot.

The Los Angeles Times says the deals benefit the state and the tribes. "Voters would be foolish to believe that gambling will rescue the state from its perpetual fiscal crises. But it does bring in revenue while also bringing much-needed wealth to impoverished indigenous Californians," the paper says.

"From a numbers point of view, approving the propositions for the Pechanga, Morongo, Agua Caliente and Sycuan tribes in Riverside and San Diego counties sets the stage for a sizable increase of slot machines at tribal casinos - 17,000 more machines over the currently allowed 60,000," The Daily Breeze writes.

"Our feeling, however, is that the benefits that California and the state's General Fund would receive as a result of casino expansion on tribal lands argue for "Yes" votes on the Indian gaming measures," the paper says.

"Overturning these compacts won't stop Californians from gambling," The Vacaville Reporter says. "And remember, these four casinos are located in prime tourism areas, which means they could bring more dollars into the state."

The Redding Record-Searchlight in northern California is far from the tribes that signed the compacts. "But these deals will simply let a few existing Southern California casinos grow. And it's hard to see how anyone up north loses in that game," the paper says.

Finally, The North County Times in San Diego County calls the compacts "aboveboard." "As far as the feds are concerned, these compacts are law. A vote to overturn them will raise some messy legal questions that will go far beyond state lines," the paper says.

Get the Story:
Editorial: Yes on 94, 95, 96, and 97 (The Los Angeles Times 1/22)
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Editorial: `Yes' on gaming pacts (The Daily Breeze 1/22)
Vote yes on Props. 94-97 (The Vacaville Reporter 1/22)
Editorial: Entire state wins a cut from SoCal casino expansion (The Redding Record-Searchlight 1/21)
We endorse...: Propositions 94-97 (The North County Times 1/20)