Pauma Band sues to invalidate gaming compact

Thursday, September 24, 2009  

The Pauma Band of Luiseño Indians is accusing California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) of tricking the tribe into signing a gaming compact.

The 2004 agreement allowed the tribe to operate more slot machines in exchange for sharing more revenues with the state. Since then, other tribes have won court decisions that said Schwarzenegger was acting in bad faith by pushing tribes to give more to the state.

Meanwhile, the Pauma Band has been making higher payments to the state even though the tribe doesn't have more slot machines. According to The San Diego Union Tribune, the tribe pays $7.75 million a year, compared to $315,000 a year under a compact that was signed in 1999.

The tribe hasn't operated more slot machines because its partner, the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation of Connecticut, has withdrawn from a $300 million casino project. The Pequots are facing financial problems of their own back home.

As a result, the Pauma Band wants a federal judge to invalidate the 2004 agreement and reinstate the 1999 agreement. The tribe also wants the state to return all the money it paid and to allow for more slot machines.

Get the Story:
Tribe sues to void casino compact (The San Diego Union Tribune 9/24)