Schwarzenegger plans appeal in compact lawsuit

Wednesday, June 10, 2009  

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) plans to appeal a decision that would allow tribes to add more slot machines to their casinos.

The Colusa Indian Community and the Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians signed compacts in 1999 that promised them up to 2,000 slot machines at their casinos. But the state Gambling Control Commission imposed a cap of 32,151 machines statewide, so not every tribe has been able to reach the limit.

On April, a federal judge ruled that the state's cap was miscalculated. He agreed with a tribal figure of 42,700 machines.

Once a final judgment is issued, the case will head to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals Picayune Rancheria, where other tribes have won favorable rulings in their attempt to operate up to 2,000 slot machines.

Get the Story:
Tribes sue California over 1999 slot machine cap (The Sacramento Bee 6/10)