Sycuan Band draws attention with bingo machine

Thursday, May 29, 2008  

State and federal regulators are looking at the electronic bingo machines being operated by the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation in California.

The tribe offers about 300 of the machines at the Sycuan Resort & Casino. Earlier this year, they were changed to play faster.

The California Gambling Control Commission contends the change makes the devices more like slot machines. Since the tribal-state compact limits the tribe to 2,000 Class III machines, that would mean the devices are over the limit.

The tribe contends the device is still bingo, a Class II game. But the National Indian Gaming Commission,, which has proposed new regulations to clarify the difference between Class II and Class III games, plans to take a look at the machines.

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Sycuan's bingo slots draw focus of regulators (The San Diego Union-Tribune 5/29)