Indian Gaming > Schwarzenegger suggests tribes in breach of pact

February 17, 2005

Schwarzenegger suggests tribes in breach of pact

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) is suggesting that some tribes may be in breach of the tribal-state compact for offering more than 2,000 gaming devices.

Schwarzenegger's spokesperson cited a ruling [PDF] from the California Gambling Control Commission. The ruling concluded that each player station at a multi-terminal gaming system is a "gaming device."

That puts the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians and the Morongo Band of Mission Indians at risk of violating a provision of the compact that limits each tribe to 2,000 gaming devices. The Pechanga Band is reportedly 91 devices over the limit and has filed a lawsuit to block the ruling.

In a separate action, the commission issued a ruling [PDF] defining the "net win" of slot machines. Tribes had proposed an alternate definition that would have required them to pay less to the state.

Get the Story:
Tribes face challenge from state over slots (Copley News Service 2/17)