Indian Gaming

A final vote on a Class III gaming compact for the North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians in California has been put off until next week, The Sacramento Bee reports.

The state Senate was due to vote on the compact this Friday. That was a day before the tribe's gaming partner, Station Casinos, scheduled a fundraiser for a key lawmaker.

The fundraiser, however, has been canceled. It had been in the works for a year so the timing with the vote on the compact was a coincidence, state Sen. Ricardo Lara (D) said.

"To ensure there's no perception of any conflict, I felt it necessary to cancel the event, effective immediately. There has never been – and there will never be – any connection between my outside fundraising and my legislative duties as an elected official," Lara said in a statement to the paper.

According to the paper, Station Casinos has spent about $250,000 to lobby lawmakers on the North Fork Rancheria compact and another one for the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, whose casino is due to open later this year.

Get the Story:
Ricardo Lara cancels Vegas fundraiser; casino vote postponed (The Sacramento Bee 5/22)
Howard Stutz / Gaming Guru: Station Casinos fundraiser for California lawmaker canceled after timing questioned (Casino City Times 5/22)

Related Stories:
North Fork Rancheria's off-reservation compact due for vote (5/21)