California tribes in line for more slot machines

Monday, October 5, 2009  

The California Gambling Control Commission is issuing licenses for slot machines as part of a tribal-compact lawsuit.

A federal judge ordered the agency to issue up to 10,549 new licenses. But it appears only a small portion will be awarded as tribes deal with the economy.

"They are one of the tribes who have the ability to expand, but they have no plans to expand," a spokesperson for the Dry Creek Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians told The Santa Rosa Press-Democrat.

But other tribes, namely those that filed lawsuits, will be gaining new machines The San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians is asking for 428 .license. The Colusa Indian Community is asking for 300. The Rincon Band of Luiseno Indians is asking for 400.

The tribes signed compacts in 1999 that promised them up to 2,000 machines. The state imposed a cap that a judge said was wrongly calculated.

Get the Story:
State to award more slot machines to Indian casinos (The Santa Rosa Press-Democrat 10/5)
California must offer more slot licenses to tribal casinos (The Sacramento Bee 10/3)