An anti-gaming amendment being proposed by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-California) would kill an off-reservation casino project in Barstow, California, despite local and state support for the project. The Los Coyotes Band of Cahuilla and Cupeno Indians and the Big Lagoon...

The tribe sued Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) for demanding a bigger share of gaming revenues.

"Sens. Feinstein and Harry Reid, D-Nev., have been actively intimidating Department of Interior staff to stall tribal applications regardless of the law. Unable to force the administration to reject legitimate tribal claims, the senators now are trying to change IGRA...

Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nevada), the Senate majority leader, is reportedly supporting a controversial amendment that would make it extremely difficult for tribes to engage in gaming on newly acquired lands. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-California), the chair of the Senate Interior...

Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nevada), the Senate majority leader, is still pushing a bill to regulate Internet gambling, contrary to some news reports. The National Indian Gaming Association opposes the bill. The group says it will keep tribes out of Internet...

The Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians continues to fight the state of California over taxes on gaming-related income The tribe distributes revenues from the Spotlight 29 Casino to its members under a federally-approved revenue allocation plan. Some members also...

The California Online Poker Association is renewing its push to legalize Internet poker games in California. The association includes 29 tribes and some non-Indian card clubs. The group wants to create a poker website that will share revenues with the...

A leadership dispute within the Cloverdale Rancheria could determine the future of the tribe's casino plan. The tribe is working with Sealaska, an Alaska Native regional corporation, on the casino. The Bureau of Indian Affairs recently closed the comment period...

The Elk Valley Rancheria of California is trying to collect at least $480,000 from a gaming firm that just declared bankruptcy. The tribe loaned the money to Ellis Las Vegas Inc. in 2008. Owner R. Shawn Ellis never repaid the...

A new version of an anti-gaming amendment requires tribes to overcome new hurdles before opening casinos on newly acquired lands. The proposal essentially bars tribes from crossing state lines to open casinos. It requires newly acquired lands to be "within...

The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians of California closed down the poker room at one of its casino and made an unspecified number of layoffs. No reason was given for the closure but the tribe plans to convert the...

"On December 10, 2010, the Supreme Court likely will decide whether to review the Ninth Circuit’s decision that the State of California failed to negotiate in good faith with the Rincon Band. This particular petition is very interesting on a...

The La Jolla Band of Mission Indians want to build a casino on its remote reservation in southern California but details are apparently hard to come by. The tribe has entered into a management agreement with Panther Partners of Florida....

If the Guidiville Band of Pomo Indians can't use a site in Richmond, California, for a casino then the next best use is a medical marijuana farm, according to a study funded by the tribe's developer. Upstream provided $50,000 for...

The Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians in California named a new general manager of the Spotlight 29 Casino. Tom Sedlock has worked at the casino since 1995. “Tom's experience and knowledge of this casino are tremendous assets,” Chairman Darrell...

The San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians has finished work on a hotel at the Valley View Casino in southern California. The tribe spent $72 million on the project. Work took more than two years but the 108 rooms are...

"On behalf of the children of the city of Richmond, I want to thank the voters for their resounding defeat of Measure U. The greater community of Richmond can do better than to place its future on gambling with a...

"While the 2010 election was seen as a setback by some, for Richmond it marked a tidal shift in a seven-year battle to protect Point Molate, the last large undeveloped headland on the bay, long targeted for an Indian gambling...

The Guidiville Band of Pomo Indians doesn't plan on changing course on the $1.2 billion Point Molate Resort despite an anti-casino sentiment in Richmond, California. Voters rejected the casino by a 58-42 percent margin on election day. They also chose...

Voters in Richmond, California, don't want a casino in their city, according to unofficial results from an advisory referendum. The Guidiville Band of Pomo Indians wants to build the $1.2 billion Point Molate Resort at Point Molate Naval Fuel Depot....

"An area of land behind Home Depot has the potential to become a hub of job opportunties, nightlife and visitor attractions. The Federated Indians of Greaton Rancheria has successfully moved the jurisdiction of this land from county oversight into a...

"In 2006, Democrats successfully won back control of Congress by highlighting corruption scandals involving Jack Abramoff, a lobbyist specializing in Indian tribes. But does one Democrat in particular have a problem of her own with her interventions on behalf of...

"Democrat Jerry Brown and Republican Meg Whitman haven't said much publicly a growing industry that generates $7 billion-plus annually. But soon after taking the oath of office, the next governor will have to deal with California Indian tribes that own...

"For seven years, the hard-luck city of Richmond has toyed with a bayside casino to ease its 18 percent jobless rate and persistent poverty. On Tuesday, voters will have their say on whether a $1 billion project crowned by a...

"For all their palaver about jobs, Democrat Jerry Brown and Republican Meg Whitman ignore public talk about a growing industry that generates $7 billion-plus annually. Soon after taking the oath of office, however, the next governor will face weighty issues...

Communities in California are looking forward to receiving their share of $30 million in tribal gaming revenues. The money comes from the Indian Gaming Special Distribution Fund. Tribes that signed Class III compacts in 1999 pay into the fund. "It's...

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) signed a bill to distribute $30 million in gaming revenues to local communities. Schwarzenegger had been holding back the funds for the current year. He also refused to distribute the money to communities affected by...

Despite claims by local officials, the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians has accepted service of a lawsuit that was filed in federal court in California. Officials in Temecula claimed a process server wasn't allowed on the reservation. But Chairman Marc...

The Guidiville Band of Pomo Indians reached a major land protection deal as part of its plan to build a casino in Richmond, California. The tribe agreed to pay at least $48 million to protect land around the Point Molate...

Foes of the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria in California say the tribe's new reservation is not eligible for gaming. The tribe was restored to federal recognition by an act of Congress. The law directed the Bureau of Indian Affairs...

It looks like the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians of California will face a lawsuit in state court over a deal with its former gaming partner. The tribe went to federal court in hopes of blocking a lawsuit filed...

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) won't say whether his administration is negotiating a Class III gaming compact with the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria. "We keep negotiations private as part of ensuring the integrity of the process," a spokesperson told...

The Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians won't allow a process server onto the reservation, officials in the city of Temecula, California, said. The city filed a lawsuit against the tribe over a gaming agreement. But the tribe hasn't been officially...

"At the request of the city, the Guidiville Tribe and Upstream-Point Molate assembled the $1 billion Point Molate Destination Resort project, consistent with the economic development goals of the Dellums legislation that conveyed the land to the city. The project...

A group called Stop the Casino 101 Coalition plans to file another lawsuit in hopes of stopping the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria from building a casino in California. The group already lost one lawsuit that went before the 9th...

"In the national battleground that is California's U.S. Senate race, weighty issues dominate, like jobs, economic dislocation and California's future, and rightly so. But sometimes, a politician's seemingly minor actions taken long ago end up having the biggest impact on...

"Your story on the Department of the Interior's disapproval of the Upper Lake Rancheria's Class III gaming compact contains a couple of factual errors. Specifically the article states as follows: “The Interior secretary previously signed four ballot measures allowing four...

"Sonoma County may never know the full story of how a Las Vegas-style casino ended up being proposed near Rohnert Park. Given the bankruptcy of Station Casinos, the backers of the proposal, we may not know for some time how...

The city of Temecula, California, made good on its threat to sue the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians over a gaming agreement. The city is expecting $2 million a year from the tribe to address impacts of the Pechanga Resort...

The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians has eliminated two percent of its casino workforce. Press secretary Nancy Conrad said 40 to 60 people were laid off. The employees came from the Spa Resort Casino and the Agua Caliente Casino...

A group that's been fighting the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria over a casino is planning another lawsuit. Stop the Casino 101 Coalition already lost one case. But now that the Bureau of Indian Affairs has approved the tribe's land-into-trust...

The Bureau of Indian Affairs has approved a land-into-trust application for the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria in California. The tribe plans to use the 254-acre site for a casino. The final environmental impact statement had been published in February...

Gaming revenues at non-Indian casinos in Nevada have declined in 30 of the last 37 months and one industry leader says the economy isn't solely to blame. "I can’t think of another market anywhere in the United States that’s been...

"Cannery Casino Resorts has entered into a joint venture agreement with a Southern California firm that specializes in advising American Indian tribes. The goal of the relationship with Tribal Financial Advisors, Inc. is to pursue agreements with American Indian tribes...

The Manzanita Band of the Kumeyaay Nation could finally see action on its off-reservation casino in the city of Calexico, near the U.S.-Mexico border. The tribe submitted a land-into-trust application to the Bureau of Indian Affairs. But a lawsuit has...

"Leave it to a federal appeals court to cut through the hoo-ha surrounding Indian gaming in California. Last month, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco issued a ruling in the ongoing — never-ending — dispute between...

"For most communities, their economies and identities are the result of geography and historical factors that evolved over time. Along the way there are key decision points, where the leaders of a city or county must decide which path to...

The Bureau of Indian Affairs held a public meeting on the casino proposed by the Cloverdale Rancheria in California. The tribe plans to build a $250 million casino in Sonoma County. The 596,000 square-foot gaming facility would be located on...

The Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation of California has dropped plans for an event center at the Cache Creek Casino Resort. The tribal council cited the uncertain economy as the reason for killing the project. It would have added 215,000 square-feet...

At least two groups submitted comments on the proposed Enterprise Rancheria casino in California. The Sierra Nevada Group said the environmental impact statement for the casino failed to address the casino's impact on air quality. The Grass Valley Neighbors also...

The Manzanita Band of the Kumeyaay Nation in California is still working on an off-reservation casino near the U.S. -Mexico border. The tribe is working with the Calexico on the project. Plans call for a 459,261 square-foot casino, a 400-room...

"In 1988, when Congress passed the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act two United States senators, John McCain and Daniel Inouye, with prominent Congressman Morris Udall, promised in separate statements in the Congressional Record that if states tried to take advantage of...

The Morongo Band of Mission Indians says 40 tribes and non-Indian card clubs have joined the effort to legalize Internet poker in California. Last month, the Morongo Band said 21 tribes became a part of the California Online Poker Association....

Indian gaming is an issue in the mayoral race in Richmond, California, but The New York Times doesn't mention the tribe involved. The Guidiville Band of Pomo Indians wants to build a $1.2 billion Point Molate casino. The Bureau of...

The Enterprise Rancheria of California hopes the Bureau of Indian Affairs makes a decision on its proposed casino by November. The comment period closed on Tuesday for the environmental impact statement for the project. Plans call for a casino on...

The Sycuan Institute on Tribal Gaming at San Diego State University is preparing graduates for jobs in the Indian gaming industry. The Sycuan Band of Kumeyaay Indians started the institute in 2005 with a $5.5 million endowment. The Viejas Band...

After waiting more than six years, the North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians of California is about to get an answer on its proposed casino. The tribe wants to build a $350 million casino with a 200-room hotel, a pool,...

Some tribes in California share gaming revenues with their members but the money can't be used to cover child support payments. Christina Brown was married to a member of the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians. A state court ordered the...

A judge in California upheld the wording of an advisory referendum on the casino proposed by the Guidiville Band of Pomo Indians. Critics said Measure U includes false statements about the $1.2 billion Point Molate Resort. But after the parties...

Charges were dropped against a woman who was one of eight people who are accused of stealing more than $102,000 from the casino owned by the Hopland Band of Pomo Indians of California. Gloria Marie Nelson, 77, had been charged...

The La Jolla Band of Mission Indians of California plans to build a casino on its reservation with a new partner. The tribe is working with Panther Partners of Florida. Plans call for a 480,000 square-foot casino and hotel. The...

Eight people have been indicted in state court for allegedly stealing more than $102,000 from the casino owned by the Hopland Band of Pomo Indians of California. Joan Elizabeth Pickron, a former employee of the Sho-Ka-Wah Casino, and seven others...

"Here are my general personal observations, not on behalf of any clients or my firm: (1) The language regarding a general proportionality test to measure whether tribal revenue sharing payments roughly correspond to benefits conferred by the state is broader...

The Bureau of Indian Affairs has rejected a Class III gaming compact for the Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake of California. The BIA said the agreement violated the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. Specifically, the provisions regarding revenue sharing and exclusivity...

"Most casinos these days have free (or cheap) shuttle service from cities and park-and-ride lots around the Bay Area. But for gamblers who'd rather travel in style, there's the Bingo Casino Shuttle Service. This option is a 21-seat bus that...

The Morongo Band of Mission Indians hopes the support of 21 other tribes will lead to quick passage of a bill to legalize Internet poker games in California. The legislative session ends on August 31. But a spokesperson said the...

The Morongo Band of Mission Indians said 21 tribes have joined a consortium for Internet poker games in California. The California Online Poker Association hopes to work with non-Indian card clubs to host the games. The plan depends on a...

The Dry Creek Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians of California reported an increase in revenue at the River Rock Casino for the third quarter in a row. Revenue was up more than 5 percent, The Santa Rosa Press-Democrat reported. “We...

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) is opposing the addition of $30 million to the state's budget to help communities near casinos. Tribes with Class III compacts that were signed in 1999 pay into the Indian Gaming Special Distribution Fund. Some...

The Pauma Band of Luiseño Indians of California allowed a woman to collect a $2,040 slot machine jackpot but said she will remain banned from the Casino Pauma. Jill Waters and her sister-in-law were playing slot machines together when the...

"There is ample evidence that the jobs produced by a casino do not outweigh the social costs casinos create. A recent article published in the Woodland Daily Democrat newspaper outlined the problems created by the Cache Creek Casino. Problems such...

The Bureau of Indian Affairs is moving forward with yet another land-into-trust application for a gaming project. Today's issue of the Federal Register contains a notice of a final environmental impact statement for the Ione Band of Miwok Indians of...

A gaming company that manages a tribal casino in California says business is still tough. Lakes Entertainment reported a drop in revenues and profits in the first half of 2010. Some of the loss was attributed to the Red Hawk...

The Enterprise Rancheria of California is moving closer to a final decision on its proposed casino. The Bureau of Indian Affairs began the review of the project in May 2005. The draft environmental impact statement was released in February 2008...

"Tuesday night, the Temecula City Council can decide to continue down a litigious path of conflict and dissipate what remains of any good will between Pechanga and the city. Or, it can honor both the letter and spirit of the...

The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation of Connecticut filed an appeal over a union election at the Foxwoods Resort Casino. The tribe says the National Labor Relations Board lacks jurisdiction at the casino. The tribe also says the United Food and...

The Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians in California continues to negotiate an agreement to address the impacts of its casino. The tribe already reached an agreement with the city of Temecula. An agreement with Riverside County is still in the...

The Mooretown Rancheria of California is undertaking an $8 million expansion of the Feather Falls Casino. The tribe began work in April. The project includes a renovation of the gaming area, a new parking garage and a new restaurant with...

Voters in Richmond, California, will get to to voice their opinion on the casino being proposed by the Guidiville Band of Pomo Indians. The November vote will be non-binding. City council members said it was important to hear from the...

The House Financial Services Committee holds a hearing this afternoon on H.R 2267, the Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection, and Enforcement Act. Federal law currently bars Internet wagering except if it is conducted under state law or through a tribal-state...

The developer of the casino for the Guidiville Band of Pomo Indians says voters in Richmond, California, should not vote on the project. The city council is considering an advisory vote on the $1.2 billion Point Molate Resort at the...

Two women are upset that the Pauma Band of Luiseño Indians of California banned them for life from the tribal casino. Jill Waters and Laura Waters are sisters-in-law. They were playing slot machines together at the Casino Pauma when one...

The Pinoleville Pomo Nation of California says it fired a company that was preparing a tribal environmental impact report on a proposed casino. The tribe was unhappy with KENNEC, a developer said. But not before the company was paid about...

"Your recent editorial, "Equal treatment for Valley businesses," misses the mark, in several significant ways. First, the editorial argues for equal treatment for privileges, but avoids all discussion of equal treatment when it comes to responsibilities to the community. Every...

"Our view: When important land-use issues are decided in a federal court in Washington rather than locally, our citizens lose. Drop the lawsuits and start talking. We've heard many governments complain over the years about monkey wrenchers — people who...

The Mechoopda Tribe of California is considering its next move after the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals put a halt to its gaming plans. The tribe wants to build a casino on a 645-acre site in Butte County. The Bush...

The Guidiville Band of Pomo Indians is prepared to open a Class II facility in the Bay Area if the state of California won't negotiate a Class III gaming compact. The tribe wants to build $1.2 billion Point Molate Resort...

KENNEC has sued the Pinoleville Pomo Nation of California for allegedly failing to pay for the tribal environmental impact report on a proposed casino. KENNEC says it is owed nearly $162,000 for the report, which was released last month. The...

"Valley residents have until the close of business today to voice their opinions — pro and con — about the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians’ application to expand its liquor license at the casino and hotel. If this request...

The Guidiville Band of Pomo Indians still has a long way to go in its quest for a casino in Richmond, California. The tribe plans to build the $1.2 billion Point Molate Resort at the Point Molate Naval Fuel Depot....

The Morongo Band of Mission Indians spent $250,000 to lobby state lawmakers on a proposal to legalize Internet poker, Capitol Weekly reports. Last year, the Morongo Band and non-Indian card clubs proposed an exclusive contract to run online games in...

The Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians of California is upset by a local mayor's opposition to the tribe's casino liquor license. The tribe wants to expand the areas where liquor is served at the Chumash Casino Hotel and Resort....

A bill to legalize Internet poker in California appears to be dead this year amid opposition from tribes and non-Indian card rooms. The Senate Governmental Organization Committee took up the bill at a hearing yesterday. It failed to move out...

The Pinoleville Pomo Nation of California released a draft tribal environmental impact report for its proposed casino. The tribe plans a 90,000-square-foot casino, a 72,100-square-foot hotel and a five-level parking garage. The facility will be located on the reservation. The...

The United Auburn Indian Community of California debuted a new hotel, spa, pool and amphitheater at the Thunder Valley Casino Resort on Monday. The project completed a major expansion of the casino. The tribe hired 700 new employees for the...

Officials in Butte County, California, are waiting for a decision in their lawsuit that seeks to stop the Mechoopda Tribe from building a casino. The county sued the National Indian Gaming Commission for issuing an Indian lands determination that...

Welfare recipients in California can use their state-issued debit cards to withdraw cash at most tribal casinos and non-Indian poker rooms, The Los Angeles Times reports. The state Department of Social Services website lists all the automated teller machines that...

The board of supervisors in Santa Barbara County, California, voted 3-2 to oppose a liquor license at the casino owned by the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians. The board will send a letter of protest to the California Department...

The Tribal Alliance of Sovereign Indian Nations is opposing a bill to legalize Internet poker in California. The tribes say the bill introduced by Sen. Roderick Wright (D) is too broad. Even the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, which supports...

The Obama administration has yet to announce its policy on off-reservation gaming, months after a senior Bureau of Indian Affairs official said a decision was going to be made "fairly soon." George Skibine, the acting principal deputy assistant secretary, told...

The site where the North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians of California wants to build a casino is up for auction as part of a bankruptcy case. The tribe entered into a contract with Station Casinos for the casino....

The Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians of California wants to expand the liquor license at its casino, The Santa Maria Times reports. The tribe wants to serve liquor in the showroom at the Chumash Casino Hotel and Resort, in...

The Redding Rancheria of California hopes to avoid blackouts at its casino and save money by switching to a new utility. The tribe became a customer of Redding Electric Utility, owned by the city of Redding. The city council approved...

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals won't rehear a landmark gaming compact negotiation case in which California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) was found to have negotiated in bad faith. In April, the court said Schwarzenegger made unfair demands of the...

The Barona Band of Mission Indians of California will share gaming rewards with two Las Vegas properties. Gamblers who earn points at the Barona Resort & Casino will able to use them at The Venetian and The Palazzo on...

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed a lawsuit that was aimed at stopping the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria from opening a casino in California. In an unpublished opinion, the court said a group called Stop the Casino 101...

Tribes that want to engage in Internet poker will have to compete for a state contract under a bill introduced by California Sen. Roderick Wright (D). The Internet Gambling Consumer Protection and Public-Private Partnership Act of 2010 authorizes up to...

The United Auburn Indian Community of California plans to hire 100 more people at the Thunder Valley Casino Resort. The tribe has already hired 600 people for its newly expanded resort. A 297-room hotel and spa will open in July....

California Sen. Roderick Wright (D) introduced a bill to legalize Internet poker but it apparently cuts tribes out of the game. The bill authorizes five-year contracts for up to three operators. Presumably, a tribe can apply for a contract but...

The casino owned by the Redding Rancheria of California has suffered six blackouts in recent months, The Redding Record-Searchlight reports. The tribe buys power from the Pacific Gas and Electric Co. and has a backup diesel generator. But that apparently...

The Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake await Bureau of Indian Affairs approval of its Class III gaming compact. The tribe reached the deal last year. It authorizes a casino with up to 750 slot machines and addresses off-reservation impacts of...

"Besides the failure to enact enough effective laws to control and regulate Indian gambling this concluding article discusses the failure of federal, state and local government to take any meaningful steps to curtail the improper and illegal activities occurring within...

Four people were arrested in connection with what authorities said was a large fight at the casino owned by the Tachi Yokut Tribe of California. The fight took place near the front entrance of the Tachi Palace Casino. Three...

"As set out in the earlier series, Gov. Davis owed his election to the massive contributions from Indian casinos operating illegally in California at the time and the massive campaign instituted by those tribes, many of which had only a...

The Cloverdale Rancheria of Pomo Indians says it is still working with Sealaska on a casino project even though the Alaska Native corporation has defaulted on a land deal. A Sealaska subsidiary agreed to pay $8.2 million for the...

The Dry Creek Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians of California reported an increase in sales at the River Rock Casino. The tribe said sales in the first quarter were $32.3 million. That's up 3 percent from the same period...

The city council in Richmond, California, voted 4-2 to extend negotiations for a casino deal with the Guidiville Band of Pomo Indians. The city has until April 2011 to sell the Point Molate Naval Fuel Depot to the tribe and...

The United Auburn Indian Community of California offered a preview of its expanded Thunder Valley Casino. The tribe expanded the gaming floor and added a 294-room hotel, a spa, 10,000-square-foot entertainment center and a seven-story parking structure. "The idea is...

The Lytton Band of Pomo Indians is adding 100 Class II gaming machines to its casino in San Pablo, California. The tribe laid off 91 employees and halted Texas Hold 'em poker to make space for the new machines at...

"This week I’ll discuss the false nature of these claims and the negative economic impacts on every community that are easily identifiable and those that are more difficult to measure. Lastly, I will discuss the manner in which a literal...

California Sen. Roderick Wright (D) plans to introduce a bill to legalize Internet poker within the next two weeks, Gambling Compliance reports. Wright said he expects tribes to challenge his bill. The tribal-state compact currently guarantees exclusivity for Class III...

The California Supreme Court declined to a hear a case that challenges a casino agreement between the city of Richmond and the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians. The city agreed to provide municipal services to the tribe's casino. The...

The Wall Street Journal publishes a chart that shows 12 states are in the process of expanding gaming or considering an expansion. The states are California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey and Ohio. Of...

The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians of California is testing a new Microsoft device at its casinos. The tribe installed three Microsoft Surface devices at the Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa and the Spa Resort Casino. The tribe's...

"As I discussed in last week’s article, Proposition 5 was struck down as unconstitutional by the California Supreme Court in August 1999. Undaunted by that fact, two months later in October 1999, Gov. Davis and the Legislature approved the 59...

"The federal court finding that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger illegally taxed the Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians doesn't mean that a governor will never get another cent from tribes. Or that tribes expect a free ride at the expense of taxpayers....

A ruling from the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals contained some harsh language for states trying to seek a share of tribal gaming revenues. The ruling said California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) negotiated in bad faith with the Rincon Band...

"The first week I discussed what led up to the enactment of the IGRA. Last week I wrote about all of the antiquated, ambiguous and contradictory aspects of federal Indian law and policy in existence, when the ill-advised Indian Gaming...

"A California band of Indians that runs a bustling casino won an important court ruling last week. If it holds up on appeal, California tribes could gain the power to expand their casinos without having to pay significant money into...

A group called Stop the Mega Casino says more and more people are opposing the casino sought by the Guidiville Band of Pomo Indians. The group released a poll that says 48 percent oppose $1.2 billion Point Molate Resort. That's...

A California lawmaker has been meeting with tribes in preparation for a bill to legalize Internet poker, Gambling Compliance reports. Sen. Roderick Wright (D) held an informational hearing on Internet poker on February 9. He could introduce his bill by...

"Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has presided over a huge expansion of tribal gaming, and tried to get a piece of the action on behalf of taxpayers. He fell short of his promise to extract a billion dollars from casinos owned by...

"Whether you play slots, craps, blackjack, roulette or baccarat or any other game in a casino, it is important to remember that games of chance are based on random outcomes and always favor the casino. These games of chance are...

"California voters have repeatedly supported Indian casinos, accepting ballot-box promises that gambling was needed to lift backcountry tribes from poverty. But as the operations flourished, another issue arose: How much should Sacramento receive from a multibillion industry? Now a federal...

"Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has no problem with gambling. He presided over a major expansion of the Indian casino industry during his six years in office, but sought a piece of the action on behalf of the state. He fell far...

"California has long been engaged in its own big spin — as in downward — so our contention that the state has become overly dependent on revenue from casino gambling received some powerful backing this week. That would be the...

A revenue-sharing fund that was created by California's 1999 Class III gaming compact is slowly running out of money, The Riverside Press-Enterprise reports. Tribes that signed the compact contribute a portion of their revenues to the Indian Gambling Special Distribution...

Three Republican judicial nominees on the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals decided the Class III gaming compact negotiation case this week. Judge Milan Smith Jr., a George W. Bush nominee, wrote the majority opinion, which was joined by Judge Thomas...

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) plans to ask the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals to rehear a gaming compact negotiation dispute. Schwarzenegger demanded additional revenues from the Rincon Band of Luiseno Indians in response to the tribe's request for more...

As part of its bankruptcy plan, Station Casinos will entertain bids on its tribal gaming projects. Station Casinos has entered into gaming management contracts with the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria of California, also known as the Coast Miwok Tribe;...

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) negotiated a Class III gaming compact with the Rincon Band of Luiseno Indians in bad faith, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled today. Schwarzenegger unfairly demanded a greater share of gaming revenues from the...

From Pechanga.net: My impeccable sources tell me that Harry Reid is working on a secret Internet poker bill with the Las Vegas casinos (Wynn, Harrahs, etc). Why are the tribes being left out? The Internet gaming train is leaving the...

A document circulating among Republicans in Washington, D.C., links convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff to H.R.2267, a bill that would regulate the Internet gaming industry. The anonymous memo suggests that supporting the bill would help Abramoff and his associates. Abramoff represented...

"It’s a Friday night and the joint was jumping. The slot machines and gambling tables were packed with boisterous customers and a party atmosphere prevailed throughout the casino. We just weren’t in Las Vegas. On an early April weekend, a...

The Buena Vista Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians has asked the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control for a liquor license. The tribe plans to serve alcohol at the planned Flying Cloud Casino. The facility will be located on the reservation....

The Dry Creek Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians of California hasn't dropped plans for a new casino. The $600 million project was put on hold after the economy collapsed. But the tribe will restart it once the credit market improves....

The Pauma Band of Luiseño Indians of California is waiting for a final ruling in its Class III compact lawsuit. The tribe and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) signed a compact in 2004. It allowed the tribe to operate more slot...

A coalition of California's largest card room donated $20,000 to the National Indian Child Welfare Association. The non-Indian card rooms learned about NICWA through the Morongo Band of Mission Indians. The card rooms and the tribe are working to legalize...

The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians of California is promoting its two casinos with an application for the Apple iPhone. The app allows users to tour the Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa and the Spa Resort Casino, see...

The National Indian Gaming Association kicked off its annual trade show and convention in San Diego, California. Tribal leaders say the $26 billion Indian gaming industry has been affected by the national recession. “It’s been tough. It hurt a...

The National Indian Gaming Association expects over 4,000 people to attend its annual trade show and convention this week in San Diego, California. The turnout is one of the largest ever for NIGA, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year....

The Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians will continue to assert sovereign immunity in a lawsuit over a failed casino deal, Chairman Nicholas Fonseca told The Sacramento Bee in a statement. The tribe is being sued by Sharp Image Gaming...

A federal judge indicated he might invalidate the Class III gaming compact that the Pauma Band of Luiseño Indians signed with California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R). The tribe signed the compact in 2004. It authorized new slot machines in exchange...

The Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians will have to go to court to defend itself against a lawsuit by a former gaming partner. The tribe claimed sovereign immunity from the lawsuit by Sharp Image Gaming Inc. But the state...

The Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation of California received a $1.1 million rebate for employing "green" energy practices at the Cache Creek Casino Resort. The tribe participates in the Shift and Save program at PG&E. Between noon and 6pm, the...

The Dry Creek Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians of California saw a 1 percent increase in gaming revenues in the last quarter. Net revenues at River Rock Casino were $31.8 million for the fourth quarter of 2009, up from...

Another California tribe has won a lawsuit over the limits the state placed on the number of slot machines at tribal casinos. The San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians signed a Class III compact in 1999. The deal promised each...

Officials in Richmond, California, say an anti-casino group posted illegal signs all across the city. Stop the Mega Casino acknowledged it is behind the signs that call on city council members to reject a casino agreement with the Guidiville Band...

"A grant from California’s Indian Gaming Special Distribution Fund is helping the Roseville Police Department prevent crime and keep the city safer in difficult economic times. The $34,154 grant, which was awarded last May, is helping the Roseville Police Department...

The Yurok Tribe of California dropped plans for a $30 million riverboat casino that chairman Thomas P. O’Rourke said would have been a major economic boost to the reservation. During the election last year, O’Rourke told tribal members about his...

The Rincon Band of Luiseno Indians of California is using the sun to keep its casino cool. The tribe operates a $8 million, 1-megawatt solar plant on the reservation. The system is used to power the air-conditioning system at the...

The mayor of Richmond, California, says the Guidiville Band of Pomo Indians will bring "more crime, robbery, drugs, domestic violence, prostitution and of course, gambling addictions" to the city with an off-reservation casino. Mayor Gayle McLaughlin has long opposed the...

A California man was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison for stealing more than $7 million from tribal casinos and non-Indian gaming facilities across the nation. Phuong Quoc Truong, who once worked at a tribal casino, led what authorities...

The casino owned by the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians of California has had a rocky start. The Red Hawk Casino opened in December 2008. Since then, the tribe has eliminated about 14 percent of the workforce and...

Four people were arrested in connection with a shooting at the Jackson Rancheria Casino in northern California. A teen was shot in the neck and another person was shot in the face early Sunday morning. Authorities said the incident was...

The Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians reached an agreement to pay the city of Temecula, California, at least $52 million over 21 years to address the impacts of its gaming facility. The tribe will share at least $42 million in...

"American Indian casinos bring more than the negative economic effects and social problems of all gambling casinos. They rely upon people who, for the most part, cannot afford to lose their money and many who become addicted to slot machines...

Officials in Sonoma County, California, say the Mishewal Wappo Tribe will try to build a casino if it wins federal recognition. The county wants to intervene in the tribe's lawsuit against the Interior Department. The tribe says its interests will...

A member of the Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians must pay state income taxes on her tribe's per capita payments because she lived on another reservation, the California Court of Appeals ruled. Angelina Mike received $345,000 in revenues...

"The secret card club gang bankrolling the disturbing anti-Indian casino ad blitz in Richmond has failed to acknowledge basic city psychology: It's OK for us to criticize us but it's not OK for outsiders to do it. The eight-page...

The United Auburn Indian Community of California is adding 600 jobs at the Thunder Valley Casino and Resort. The tribe is finishing work on an expansion project at the casino. About 200 jobs people will be hired at a...

The city council in Richmond, California, continues to negotiate with the developers of a casino for the Guidiville Band of Pomo Indians. The city plans to sell the old Point Molate Naval Fuel Depot for $50 million. The closing date...

"When I read the California Tribal Business Alliance's recent commentary on Internet poker, I was reminded of a quote attributed to the late Daniel Patrick Moynihan: "Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, but they are not entitled to their...

The Tule River Tribe of California settled a lawsuit over the failed takeover of a card club. The tribe paid $800,000 to James Podergois and David Gonzales to buy the license of The Mint. But the state refused to grant...

A California Court of Appeal rejected a challenge to a casino agreement between the city of Richmond and the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians. The city agreed to provide municipal services to the tribe's casino. The tribe would pay...

A public rally hasn't convinced the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians of California to change locations for a casino. The tribe is sticking to a site about 100 miles from its headquarters."We continue to be extremely optimistic that our...

"Petaluma voters approved Measure H, which I also authored, to oppose a proposed casino just south of Petaluma, by a vote of 79 percent “yes” to 21 percent “no.” That casino proposal quickly derailed. Bottom line: advisory votes matter. Which...

"By stacking the deck against tribal governments when negotiating casino compacts, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger was gambling that he could violate federal law with impunity. He bet he could hold the tribes hostage by our need to engage in gaming...

Some members of the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians of California are trying to convince their tribe to open a casino closer to home. The tribe has proposed a casino in Richmond, about 100 miles from tribal headquarters....

"There's plenty to debate about the casino plans of the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria. Critics have asked legitimate questions about traffic and potential environmental impacts of a hotel and casino wedged between Rohnert Park and the Laguna de...

Les Miller, a former chairman of the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians of California, wants his tribe to consider a new site for a casino. Miller is leading a rally tonight in hopes of persuading the tribe to buy...

"Speaking of legislators, I thought you might be interested in some information I just received about the influence on our legislators that is derived from casinos. The two biggest arguments given to allow the growth of casinos nationwide is first,...

The Pinoleville Pomo Nation of California plans to build the fifth tribal casino in Mendocino County, population 90,000. The tribe gained state legislative approval for a casino with up to 900 slot machines. The compact awaits approval from the Bureau...

The Buena Vista Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians of California is facing another lawsuit over its casino plans. The tribe was restored to federal recognition in 1983. But a group called Friends of Amador County says the tribe isn't legitimate and...

"California's economic woes are undisputed. But dire fiscal times do not justify dishonorable deeds and the breaking of commitments. This state, its governor and this Legislature have entered into tribal-state gaming compacts with 66 California tribal governments. Each compact...

A 75-year-old woman is trying to get the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation to pay $160,000 for an accident at the tribe's casino. When she was 70, Sarah Harris said she tried to stop an altercation between her friend...

An anti-casino group called Friends of Amador County says the Buena Vista Rancheria of Mewuk Indians of California can't use its original reservation for gaming. The group says the people who occupied the 67-acre site are not a legitimate tribe....

"It's no surprise that the National Education Association was the nation's biggest political lobbyist in 2007 and 2008, dishing out $56.3 million in federal and state campaigns. But a new study reveals that the next three top donors were —...

The New York Times says all 109 federally-recognized tribes in California could try to open casinos in urban or off-reservation areas despite a lack of strong evidence for that claim. The paper reports on the Guidiville Band of Pomo...

"Indian gambling has become a huge economic and political force in California. A 2005 report by the Institute of Governmental Studies at the University of California, Berkeley, said that Indian gambling in California produces $5.1 billion in revenues a year....

"Once again, state legislators are taking a look at a plan that backers say will help reduce California's $20 billion budget gap without raising taxes or cutting spending. It is a proposal by the Morongo Band of Mission Indians to...

A group called the Stop the Casino 101 Coalition says the leader of the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria is not Indian. The group claims Greg Sarris, who turns 58 this week, is of Caucasian, Filipino and other ancestry....

"It's an old line but true: If you sit down to play poker and don't know who the sucker is, it's you. On Tuesday, lobbyists, consultants and clients filled almost every one of the 182 seats in Room 4203 of...

The California Senate Governmental Organization Committee held a hearing on Tuesday to examine Internet poker. The Morongo Band of Mission Indians wants a consortium of tribes and non-Indian card clubs to be able to offer Internet poker games. The...

Two tribes have filed separate lawsuits against the state of California over limits placed on the number of slot machines at their casinos. The San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians already won a decision in federal court that said the...

The Jackson Rancheria Band of Miwuk Indians is celebrating two special birthdays this year. The tribe is marking the 25th anniversary of Jackson Rancheria Casino & Hotel. The facility began as a bingo hall in 1985. Margaret Dalton, the...

A former gaming executive for the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians of California has been indicted for allegedly stealing more than $4 million from the tribe. James William Riley, 46, was the chief financial officer of the Pechanga Resort &...

The Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation of California is utilizing social networking sites to connect with gamblers. The Cache Creek Casino Resort has accounts on Facebook and Twitter. The facility is also testing out a mobile phone system aimed at helping...

"Expansion plans by an Indian casino near Sacramento, Calif., signal another bad omen for Northern Nevada's beleaguered gaming market. Casino revenues in Reno and the Lake Tahoe area have been decimated for almost three years. The recession has zapped tourism,...

David Fendrick, a top gaming executive for the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians of California,. no longer works for the tribe. Fendrick was the chief operating officer for two of the tribe's casinos. He wouldn't say why he...

John Cirrincione, the chief operating officer of the casino owned by the Dry Creek Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians of California, resigned his position. Cirrincione is the second executive to leave the River Rock Casino in less than two months....

The Morongo Band of Mission Indians is still trying to line up other California tribes for an Internet poker venture. The tribe wants to create an online poker consortium with card clubs. But the idea continues to generate opposition, mainly...

After winning state approval of its Class III gaming compact, Pinoleville Pomo Nation of California expects to start construction on its first casino next year. The tribe plans a $50 million, 90,000 square-foot casino on 8.8 acres. The land...

"In Dan Morain's column, "Casino-owning tribes are betting on Brown," Morain displays a complete misunderstanding of the attorney general's role with regard to the regulation of tribal casinos in California. Under the tribal compacts negotiated by Gov. Gray Davis and...

The California Assembly voted 54-1 in favor of a Class III gaming compact with the Pinoleville Pomo Nation. The tribe plans a casino with up to 900 slot machines. Groundbreaking is expected to take place this spring or in early...

The Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation of California announced plans to expand the Cache Creek Casino Resort. The tribe previously halted a much larger expansion amid the national recession. But the scaled-back project is already drawing complaints from area residents. Get...

"Attorney General Jerry Brown casts himself as a no-nonsense prosecutor. But when it comes to asserting state oversight of casinos owned by Indian tribes, he's been less than aggressive. Tribes that own the state's most lucrative casinos are betting early...

"The Guidiville Band of Pomo Indians, a Mendocino County Pomo tribe like ours, is attempting to obtain land in trust for gaming at Point Molate, Contra Costa County, in the heart of the urban San Francisco Bay Area. While the...

The Mishewal Wappo Tribe of California has no plans for a casino and won't think about one until regaining federal recognition, chairman Scott Gabaldon said. The tribe was terminated by an act of Congress in 1959. But the Interior Department...

The Manchester-Point Arena Band of Pomo Indians is opposing plans by another Pomo tribe for a casino in the Bay Area of California. The Manchester-Point Arena Band says the Guidiville Band of Pomo Indians can't demonstrate a historical connection to...

The United Auburn Indian Community of California will take over management of the Thunder Valley Casino this summer. The tribe entered into a federally-approved management agreement with Station Casinos. The seven-year agreement expires in June. "The relationship has been...

In a settlement with the National Indian Gaming Commission, the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians agreed to look for new investors for an off-reservation casino in California. The tribe entered into a management contract with a Florida-based company called...

The Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians of California unveiled a $52 million renovation of the Spotlight 29 Casino on Thursday. The tribe opened the facility 15 years ago. The casino now boasts a 150,000 square-foot gaming floor and...

Robert Martin, the chairman of the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, urged California tribes to join a proposed Internet poker consortium or risk losing millions of dollars in gaming revenues. Martin said off-shore companies and Las Vegas casinos are...

The 15th annual Western Indian Gaming Conference began on Tuesday with a new format. There's no trade show this year. Instead, tribes, gaming vendors and other companies are sponsoring seminars on a wide range of topics. Regulation was the...

The California Nations Indian Gaming Association kicks off the annual Western Indian Gaming Conference in Pam Springs today. This year's hot topic is Internet gaming. Tribal leaders and regulators are hosting a number of sessions to discuss what CNIGA Chairman...

"Sometime in the next 10 weeks, and despite opposition from Richmond's mayor, the governor, the state's two U.S. senators, and what seems to be a lot of Richmond residents, the City Council could vote to transfer Point Molate's title to...

The North County Transit District in California will ask tribes to help pay for the cost of transporting people with disabilities to Indian gaming facilities in San Diego County. Riders in the paratransit program pay $8 for a round-trip ticket...

The California Nations Indian Gaming Association holds the annual Western Indian Gaming Conference next week. The conference takes place January 12-14 at the Palm Springs Convention Center. Registration this year is free. Daniel J. Tucker, the newly-elected chairman of CNIGA,...