California agency to issue more slot licenses

Friday, October 2, 2009  

The California Gambling Control Commission has been ordered to issue licenses for up to 10,549 slot machines as part of a tribal compact lawsuit.

Tribes will have to pay $1,250 for each slot license. The San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians already has plans for more at the Valley View Casino.

“We'll put them in use as soon as possible,” attorney Stephen Warren Solomon told The San Diego Union-Tribune. “We're building a hotel, and we're ready to go.”

The order came in a lawsuit filed by tribes that signed gaming compacts in 1999. The agreements theoretically promised each tribe up to 2,000 slot machines.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) is fighting the order but the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals won't hear the case until February 2010. The commission will issue the licenses but may invalidate them if court ends up ruling for the state.

Get the Story:
Federal court clears obstacles to new slots (The San Diego Union-Tribune 10/2)