A Class III gaming compact for the Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake won passage in the California Senate on Thursday, clearing the way for final approval by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The deal was approved by the Assembly last...

"Despite the economic downturn in the U.S. casino business, the horse racing industry continues reaching out to it as a life preserver. The common synergies are undeniable. If the citizenry doesn't want a casino anywhere near them, then put the...

A Class III gaming compact for the Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake is nearing final passage in the California Legislature. The deal passed the Assembly last Thursday by a 68-0 vote. The Senate Governmental Organization Committee is holding an information...

Daniel J. Tucker, the new chairman of the California Nations Indian Gaming Association, says tribes need to stay united as they face common challenges. Tucker, the chairman of the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation, said in a letter posted...

The Morongo Band of Mission Indians and non-Indian card clubs are reviving a proposal to legalize Internet poker in California. The tribe and the card clubs say the games will generate revenues for the cash-strapped state. "About 1 million Californians...

The San Diego Union Tribune publishes opposing views on off-reservation gaming. Attorney Joe Findaro says landless and poor tribes should be given a chance to succeed in Indian gaming. He cites two cases in California where off-reservation casinos will benefit...

Charities in California are weighing their options after the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday lifted an injunction that could lead to the removal of electronic gaming machines from their facilities. The charities say the use of electronic gaming...

Officials with the North County Transit District in southern California say it costs too much money to take passengers with disabilities to tribal casinos. Riders in the paratransit program pay $8 for a round-trip ticket to a casino. The cost...

The California Nations Indian Gaming Association has a new chairman and a new treasurer. Daniel Tucker, the chairman of the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation, was elected chairman. He defeated Anthony Miranda, a member of the Pechanga Band of...

The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians of California saw a 2.6 percent drop in earnings at one of its casinos. The Agua Caliente Casino Resort and Spa cost $400 million. The hotel at the casino opened in April...

About 40 percent of the employees at the casino owned by the United Auburn Indian Community of California have organized into unions. About 810 drivers, food-service workers and other employees at Thunder Valley Casino are joining either Unite Here or...

Tribal gaming facilities took in $26.8 billion last year, representing a growth of 1.5 percent, according to the annual Indian Gaming Industry Report. California remained the largest market, with tribes taking in $7.3 billion in 2008. But that represented...

The United Auburn Indian Community of California is busy working on an expansion of the Thunder Valley Casino. The project includes a 15-story hotel, the tallest in Placer County, and a parking structure. A part of the parking structure will...

Robert Martin, the chairman of the Morongo Band of Mission Indians of California, testified at a House Financial Services Committee hearing on Thursday. Martin opposed H.R. 2266, the Reasonable Prudence in Regulation Act, and H.R. 2267, the Internet Gambling Regulation,...

"The Manzanita Band of Mission Indians is currently engaged in “reservation shopping” to develop a casino 50 miles from its historic reservation in rural San Diego County. Their preferred new urban location is in the City of Calexico here in...

"State Attorney General Jerry Brown is on a fundraising roll, having collected more than $1.65 million for his gubernatorial run in the past month - with more than $1 million coming from that big Hollywood fundraiser a couple of weeks...

The top casino executive for the Dry Creek Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians of California has resigned. Scott Garawitz served as chief executive officer at River Rock Casino for a little over a year. He had worked at the casino...

Opponents of the casino being proposed by the Guidiville Band of Pomo Indians are resting their hopes in members of Congress now that supervisors in Contra Costa County voted to support the project. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-California) and Sen....

The San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians of California is finally operating 2,000 slot machines at the Valley View Casino. The tribe signed a Class III gaming compact in 1999 that promised up to 2,000 slot machines. But the California...

Gaming tribes in California spent nearly $130 million on ballot initiatives, politicians and political action committees last year, according to the Center for Responsive Politics and the National Institute on Money in State Politics. Three tribes ranked among the...

Four city council members in San Jacinto, California, have been indicted as part of a sweeping 155-count indictment into government corruption, tax fraud, bribery and perjury. The four have consistently opposed plans by the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians to...

People are still visiting casinos in California but they are spending less, a situation that's not expected to improve until the middle of next year. The region that includes California saw a 5.8 drop in tribal gaming revenues last...

The Dry Creek Band of Pomo Indians of California reported an 8 percent drop in gaming revenues in the last quarter. The tribe said it took in $29.7 million at River Rock Casino.That's down from $32.3 million for the same...

The Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians says tribal members who live off the reservation should not pay state taxes on gaming-related income The tribe distributes revenues from the Spotlight 29 Casino to its members under a federally-approved revenue allocation...

The Pinoleville Band of Pomo Indians of California is moving forward with a casino project. The tribe plans to build a casino on 8.8. acres north of Ukiah. Groundbreaking is expected in the late spring or early summer of 2010....

Tribes in southern California have donated millions of dollars in gaming revenues with their communities. The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians has donated $30 million to charities since 2001. The tribe will be recognized on Friday by the Council...

Supervisors in Contra Costa County, California, reversed course and approved a casino agreement with the Guidiville Band of Pomo Indians. The county initially opposed the tribe's land-into-trust application. But with the project moving forward, supervisors said it made more sense...

Leslie Lohse, the chairwoman of the Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians of California, asked President Barack Obama about off-reservation gaming at the White House Tribal Nations Conference last week. Lohse said the Interior Department needs to clarify its land-into-trust policy....

"The people who addressed the Contra Costa County supervisors Tuesday came armed with hard-edge opinions on building an Indian casino-resort on the Richmond waterfront. One unemployed man said the Point Molate project proposed by the Guidiville Band of Pomo Indians...

The casino owned by the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians isn't performing as well as expected, Lakes Entertainment Inc said on Thursday. The Red Hawk Casino opened in December 2008. Lakes, which manages the facility, said customers aren't...

The Big Sandy Band of Western Mono Indians has dropped plans to add more slot machines to its casino in northern California. The tribe was awarded 1,650 licenses -- the most of any tribe -- on October 5 by...

Elaine Bethel Fink, the chair of the North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians of California, is hoping the Obama administration will make a decision on its off-reservation casino. The tribe wants to build a casino in Madera, about 35 miles...

After spending $1 million fighting the Guidiville Band of Pomo Indians, supervisors in Contra Costa County, California, are now planning to back the tribe's casino. The tribe wants to share $12 million a year with the county and $20 million...

"We are appalled by Contra Costa County officials' move to ram through today with little public review a horrible sell out deal that would ease the path to Nevada-style gambling on the shores of San Francisco Bay. The tiny Guidiville...

The board of supervisors in Contra Costa County, California, is set drop its opposition to the casino sought by the Guidiville Band of Pomo Indians in exchange for $12 million a year. Supervisor John Gioia has led opposition to the...

The Lytton Band of Pomo Indians is opposing a bill to restrict the expansion of its casino in San Pablo, California. The tribe acquired the 10 acres for the San Pablo Lytton Casino through an act of Congress. The move...

"As two of the plaintiffs in a federal lawsuit, Stop the Casino 101 Coalition v. Kempthorne, challenging the U.S. Department of Interior’s decision to take 254 acres near Rohnert Park into trust for a casino to be owned by the...

"News that the Dry Creek Band of Pomo Indians is considering building a minor league baseball stadium on property it owns alongside the freeway just south of Petaluma offers some hope to local residents that an unwanted gambling casino might...

The Manchester Band of Pomo Indians of California has begun work on a casino despite lack of financing. The tribe plans an 8,836 square-foot casino with 249 slot machines. The facility could be open by spring 2010. Other tribes in...

"Clear Lake, long a vacation and retirement locale about two hours northeast of San Francisco, is also home to three substantial Indian casinos and may soon be joined by a fourth. The 210-member Habematolel Pomo, of Upper Lake, is...

"Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who has helped bring an expansion of casino gambling to the state during his tenure, is finally drawing the line. He has joined the chorus in opposing a plan for Las Vegas-style gambling at Point Molate in...

The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians of California is hosting the Ante Up for Africa poker tournament and will donate $500,000 to help people in Darfur, a war-torn region of Sudan. The tournament takes place at San Manuel Indian...

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) sent a letter to the Bureau of Indian Affairs in opposition to the casino sought by the Guidiville Band of Pomo Indians. When state voters approved a gaming initiative in 2000, they didn't want tribes...

A decision by the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation to cancel a major casino project is being welcomed in Yolo County, California. Officials, business leaders and residents say the tribe made the right call not to expand the Cache Creek Casino...

Officials in Contra Costa County, California, want to talk to two tribes about their proposed casinos. The board of supervisors officially opposes Indian gaming. But the cash-strapped county might enter into agreements with the two tribes in order to get...

The Big Sandy Rancheria Band of Western Mono Indians received the largest number of slot machine licenses in the California Gambling Control Commission draw on Monday. The tribe was awarded 1,650 licenses. With 350 slots already in play at the...

The Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation of California halted plans for a major casino expansion due to economic factors. The tribe planned to triple the size of the Cache Creek Casino Resort. The facility would have grown to 1.2 million square-feet,...

Despite seeing drops in their gaming revenues, California tribes will emerge from the national recession "profitable," according to a report from Fitch Ratings. Fitch predicts tribal gaming revenues in the state will drop for the second year in a row...

The California Gambling Control Commission awarded 3,548 slot machine licenses to 11 tribes on Monday. The Cabazon Band of Mission Indians, the Big Sandy Band of Western Mono Indians, the Colusa Indian Community, the San Pasqual Band of Mission...

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...

Correction: The Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation is NOT currently a client of attorney Howard Dickstein. The original version of the post incorrectly referred to the tribe as a client. Attorney Howard Dickstein and one of his tribal clients oppose legislation...

An appeals court in California threw out a jury verdict and ordered a new trial in a case between the Pauma Band of Luiseño Indians and Harrah's Entertainment. The tribe was negotiating a casino deal with Caesars Entertainment when Harrah's...

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...

A casino owned by the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians has received a "Four Diamond" rating from AAA. The Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa in Rancho Mirage just underwent a major expansion. Officials said the new facility deserved the...

The California Gambling Control Commission has proposed its own version of the minimum internal control standards, or MICS, but some tribes are opposed. The MICS cover just about every aspect of Class III gaming. The state proposed them after a...

"You can still smoke in parts of the Agua Caliente Casino in Rancho Mirage, a place where time travels in reverse, sin is celebrated and inhibition does not exist. You can light one cigarette after another while you gamble away...

The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation of Connecticut withdrew from a casino deal in California due to economic concerns, a spokesperson said. The Pequots agreed to help the Pauma Band of Luiseño Indians with a $300 million casino. But they tribes...

"Every working day I receive fifteen to twenty emails of newspaper articles from around the country regarding issues having to do with tribal casinos. There are a whole host of different things happening around the country, some of which are...

The Pauma Band of Luiseño Indians is accusing California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) of tricking the tribe into signing a gaming compact. The 2004 agreement allowed the tribe to operate more slot machines in exchange for sharing more revenues with...

"Sam Farr went to Harrah's Rincon Casino this past Saturday night to see a rap concert. He had no intention of drinking at the event. He's recovering from a horrific car accident that left him paralyzed. He's in a...

The Augustine Band of Cahuilla Indians expects to post a profit at its casino this year amid layoffs and declines at other tribal gaming facilities in southern California. With 800 slot machines, the Augustine Casino is smaller than most...

The Bureau of Indian Affairs is winding down the comment period on a draft environmental impact statement and environmental impact report for the casino proposed by the Guidiville Band of Pomo Indians. The tribe plans a $1.2 billion resort...

The city council in San Jacinto, California, voted unanimously to oppose a land-into-trust application for the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians. The tribe wants 535 acres placed in trust. The existing Soboba Casino will be moved to the new site....

"The proposed Graton Rancheria casino in Rohnert Park is a good example of how tribes are allowed to bypass regulations everyone else must abide by. The site is zoned rural residential and agricultural under the Sonoma County general plan. One...

The board of supervisors in Riverside County, California, voted 4-0 to oppose a land-into-trust application for the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians. The board expressed concerns about traffic, public safety and the environment. Supervisors called the environmental impact statement for...

"In a recent editorial, “Money talks” (Sept. 4), The Press Democrat claimed that “big money and power politics” was the driving force behind a state Senate committee's unanimous rejection of Assemblyman Jared Huffman's resolution on Indian gaming. The real reason...

"It is a shame that the benefits a new casino would have are lost in the uproar. The plan by the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians to build a casino complex at Lake Park Drive and Soboba Road would...

The Morongo Band of Mission Indians will spend the next few months gathering more support for a bill to legalize Internet poker in California. The tribe and some non-Indian card clubs were hoping to pass the bill this year but...

The Morongo Band of Mission Indians dropped efforts to legalize Internet poker in California but the tribe will try again in 2010. The tribe and some non-Indian card clubs sought to operate online poker games and share revenues with the...

The San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians is expanding the Valley View Casino but some neighbors aren't happy with the project. The tribe is building a 12-story, 161-suite hotel at the facility. Renee Meyst says noise from the casino...

The Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake signed a Class III gaming compact with California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R). The deal requires the tribe to share 15 percent of net revenues with the state. It also requires the tribe to meet...

"A number of readers and fellow gamblers have asked me recently about how much of the money we wager at Indian casinos actually stays on the reservation. The answer: It depends. Background in this area requires a bit of case...

A bill that makes it harder for tribes to open casinos is slowly dying in the California Legislature. ACR 56 bars the state governor from entering into Class III gaming compacts unless the gaming site at issue is already in...

The city council in Richmond, California passed a resolution that questions the environmental impact report for the casino proposed by the Guidiville Band of Pomo Indians. The city hasn't officially opposed the tribe's land-into-trust application. But the resolution calls the...

A city council member in Petaluma, California, wants voters to decide on the casino proposed by the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, also known as the Coast Miwok Tribe. Councilor Mike Healy is a critic of the casino. He says...

The North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians paid for a council member in the city of Madera, California, to travel to Washington, D.C., and testify in favor of the tribe's proposed casino, The Fresno Bee reports. The tribe bought Gary...

The city council in San Pablo, California, is seeking more time to comment on the draft environmental impact statement and environmental impact report for the casino proposed by the Guidiville Band of Pomo Indians. The city says the report fails...

Four tribes in California have won court decisions that allow them to offer more slot machines at their casinos but Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) is refusing to comply. The Rincon Band of Luiseno Indians, the San Pasqual Band of Mission...

A report from Fitch Ratings says California tribes won't emerge from the economic recession until the second half of 2010. Some tribes have seen double-digit drops in their gaming revenues. Fitch predicts continued declines for at least another year....

The city council in Hemet, California, wants to meet with the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians to discuss the tribe's casino plans. City officials want to discuss effects of the casino on traffic, public safety, the environment and local businesses....

"One of the greatest mistakes California voters ever made was in 1998 by approving Proposition 5 allowing Indian casinos. The proposed 415-acre casino-hotel-retail Point Molate development at the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge's eastern end is no exception. It will do little...

Another California tribe has entered the debate over a proposal to legalize Internet poker in the state. The Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians opposes the proposal "out of concerns for the far-reaching legal, political and policy consequences of an expansion...

"It's long been said the Internet is like the Wild West ---- uncivilized and ungovernable. But there was at least one thing you could do in the Old West that you can't on the Internet: gamble. Not legally, anyway. Not...

The Dry Creek Band of Pomo Indians reported another drop in revenues at the River Rock Casino in northern California. The casino took in $31.1 million during the quarter that ended June 30. That's 7.4 percent below the same...

"Given the state's dire fiscal circumstances, California's Legislature is ripe for a politically painless source of new revenues. On the surface, Internet poker appears to provide just that. But don't bet on it. None of California's gambling schemes, whether the...

"Given the state's dire fiscal circumstances, California's Legislature is ripe for a politically painless source of new revenues. On the surface, Internet poker appears to provide just that. But don't bet on it. None of California's gambling schemes, whether the...

The Morongo Band of Mission Indians and non-Indian card clubs say the state of California will share in revenues from Internet poker games. But the tribe won't say how much will go to the state because a bill to legalize...

"Indians are famous for a few things—a kind of off-brand environmentalism, Sitting Bull, broken English, and most of all for being poor. Poverty is, for many, synonymous with the very idea of Indians and Indian reservations. This thought stuck with...

Tribes in southern California are offering recession-friendly deals to draw customers to their casinos. Tribes are reducing restaurant prices, offering more casino rewards and emphasizing value over glitz, The North County Times reports. "This recession's going to change the mindset...

"You can pretend to be rich and get away with it. But as I found out when I golfed Journey at Pechanga, you can't pretend to be a good golfer when you're not. The course is carved into the foothills...

The California Tribal Business Alliance opposes efforts to legalize Internet poker for tribes and non-Indian card clubs in California. The CTBA sent a letter to state lawmakers that questions the proposal. The group says Internet gaming would disrupt the tribal-state...

More than 200 people attended a public hearing on the proposed Guidiville Band of Pomo Indians casino in Richmond, California. Most people support the project, according to news reports. They welcomed the prospect of 17,000 construction and casino jobs. "It's...

The Morongo Band of Mission Indians has teamed up with non-Indian card clubs to push for the legalization of Internet poker in California. The tribe and the card clubs are lobbying lawmakers in hopes of getting a bill passed this...

"It's not exactly the shores of Gitche Gumee, but a California Indian tribe is about to take the next step in its dream to build a lavish $1 billion casino on the Richmond waterfront at Point Molate. The project...

"The sporty supercharged Nissan 350Z I rented at LAX that the Hertz representative said was sure to make my wife smile—"She will smile. Show her the car. She will think you are the man."—did not make her smile, and...

More than 200 people attended a Bureau of Indian Affairs hearing on the land-into-trust application for the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians of California. Most speakers oppose the tribe's plan to move the Soboba Casino to a 535-acre site near...

The United Auburn Indian Community of California announced the hiring of four top executives at the Thunder Valley Casino. Yvonne Mao will serve as vice president of finance. C.J. Graham was named vice president of casino operations. Tina Rogo is...

After experiencing losses last year, Lakes Entertainment is seeing a turnaround in revenues thanks to its tribal casino business. Lakes earned $2.8 million in the second quarter of this year, a reversal of the $5.2 million it lost during the...

A large crowd is expected at the first public hearing on the land-into-trust application for the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians of California. The tribe wants 535 acres placed in trust. If the Bureau of Indian Affairs approves, the tribe...

The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians made a big push to promote a boxing event at its new casino theater. The tribe took out full-page ads and put up billboards to draw customers to The Show at Agua Caliente...

Opponents of the Graton Rancheria casino in California say the bankruptcy filing of Station Casinos Inc. will hurt the project. "I'm deeply satisfied that this bankruptcy will slow it down," Chip Worthington, the founder of Stop the Casino 101, told...

The Guidiville Band of Pomo Indians is moving forward with plans for a casino in Richmond, California. The tribe wants to build a resort on 85 acres at Point Molate, on the Richmond waterfront. The project call for a casino...

"More parking, more gaming, less smoke. Earlier this month the Black Oak Casino unveiled its new 1,000-space parking garage and larger smoke-free gaming area. The six-level parking garage doubles the Tuolumne casino's parking capacity. Glass elevators take guests from all...

Officials in Riverside County, California, are asking the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians to make a presentation about its proposed casino. The tribe wants 535 acres placed in trust. Plans call to move the existing Soboba Casino to the new...

"Sho-Ka-Wah Casino: Nestled into a small valley northeast of Hopland, the Sho-Ka-Wah Casino is the quintessential "locals" casino. While the facility doesn't have live poker, it offers 570 slot machines and nine table games. Sho-Ka-Wah is also less than...

The Bureau of Indian Affairs will host two public hearings and two public workshops to discuss the casino proposed by the Guidiville Band of Pomo Indians of California. The tribe wants to build a resort at Point Molate, on the...

Tribes in California are still attracting patrons to their casinos despite the national recession. But customers are spending less during their visits. And revenues have fallen 5.9 percent in the past year, the National Indian Gaming Commission said in a...

"The rumor scurries into town every few years, old-timers say, and it’s back again, lurking this time in that cauldron of get-rich-quick schemes so expertly stirred by our impressive local army of scam artists and swindlers. Sorry, I mean alleged...

The Obama administration is delaying action on a proposed gaming acquisition for the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria of California. The tribe was recognized in 2000 by an act of Congress. The law mandated the acquisition of trust land for...

"230 Number of gaming tribes nationwide, operating 425 gambling enterprises in 28 states 26.5 billion Indian gaming revenue, in dollars, 2007 40 Percentage of this money generated by the 62 top casinos in California and Connecticut 55 Percent increase in...

The Ewiiaapaayp Band of Kumeyaay Indians won't deny that is interested in building an off-reservation casino in southern California. But the tribe says its land-into-trust application for 16 acres is not about gaming. Plans call for a medical and day-care...

A California woman who uses a wheelchair says the San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians is violating the Americans with Disabilities Act. The tribe offers a free bus service to the Valley View Casino. Heather Siegel called for a...

The Jackson Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians of California has shut down parts of its casino and has canceled all remaining concerts due to safety concerns. The tribe has closed 45 of the 67 hotel rooms, a restaurant and a conference...

"Nine years ago, 64 percent of the California electorate voted to give American Indians a monopoly on casino-style gambling. It was an effort to help lift California Indians out of poverty – all 32,000 enrolled tribal members. The public was...

"The Pala Casino got its LED lights knocked out last week. As heavyweight bouts go, it was no contest. Score one for the much-maligned bureaucrats. This time around, the pencil-pushers showed blazing speed and decisive punch. Last week, I...

J.D. Power and Associates released the 2009 Indian Gaming Casino Satisfaction Study on Wednesday. The study looked at casinos in Arizona and California. In Arizona, Harrah's Ak-Chin Casino, owned by the Ak-Chin Indian Community, was ranked highest while the Barona...

The Pala Band of Mission Indians is removing a billboard that advertised the Pala Casino in southern California. The LED billboard was erected on property owned by the tribe. But the San Diego County code enforcement chief said the...

Tribes in California have been hit by the recession though their revenues haven't dropped as much as those in Las Vegas. People are still visiting tribal facilities but they are spending less money and less time there. That contributed to...

Two men went on trial for the theft of $1.5 million from the casino owned by the Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians. Rolando Luda Ramos, 27, is accused of organizing the theft, the largest of its kind in southern...

The Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria hopes to convince the Obama administration to approve its long-delayed casino in northern California. The tribe won approval to acquire 254 acres for the project but the Bureau of Indian Affairs is holding...

Tribes would be able to offer online poker games under a bill being considered in California. Tribes with Class III gaming compacts would be allowed to offer the games. So would non-Indian card clubs, a supporter of the bill said....

"It's with a strong sense of joy and relief that we report this week that the Blue Lake Rancheria has completed a major construction project. The Blue Lake Casino Hotel is now ready to open its doors. The 102-room facility,...

Neighbors of the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation will continue to fight liquor sales at the tribe's casino in southern California. The state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control approved an interim license for the Sycuan Casino. Opponents, who...

"The pay to play mentality has never been more prevalent than it is today. The historic special interests have been around a long time: unions, big business, medical and legal based associations, prison guards and a number of others. The...

Tribes in California and northern Nevada saw a 5.6 percent decline in gaming revenues last year, the National Indian Gaming Commission said in its recent report. But the number of visitors to tribal casinos doesn't appear to have dropped....

The Cachil Dehe Band of Wintun Indians has laid off 42 employee at its casino in northern California. The layoffs represent nearly 10 percent of the workforce at the Colusa Casino Resort. "There is not a second wave of cuts...

Non-Indian card clubs in California have seen an increase in revenues, according to the state Gambling Control Commission. One facility is capitalizing on the gain. Lucky Chances Casino, the largest non-Indian card club in northern California, wants to add...

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) plans to appeal a decision that would allow tribes to add more slot machines to their casinos. The Colusa Indian Community and the Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians signed compacts in 1999 that promised...

At least four tribes are suing the state of California in hopes of adding more slot machines to their casinos. The tribes signed compacts in 1999 that promised them up to 2,000 slot machines. But a statewide cap has prevented...

The Middletown Rancheria of Pomo Indians holds a grand opening for its $42.5 million casino resort this week. The gaming floor at the Twin Pine Casino and Hotel officially opened last Thanksgiving. The hotel opened in March. The 107,000-square-foot...

The San Pasqual Band of Missions Indians filed a $550 million claim against the state of California in an ongoing slot machine dispute. The tribe signed a Class III gaming compact in 1999. The agreement theoretically promises the tribe up...

"It was 15 years ago this month that we first opened the doors of our Chumash Casino to an enthusiastic crowd — including many guests who continue to visit us today. We opened with 210 slot machines, a few table...

"As the chairman of the Mechoopda Tribe, I have made it my highest priority to ensure that our tribe conducts itself with honor and integrity. However, as events continue to unfold concerning the development of our proposed casino on...

"It's fancy. It's schmancy. And Red Hawk Casino in Placerville (El Dorado County) is the newest gambling establishment in Northern California. Considering the facility is the first in the state to offer on-site day care for kids up to...

"If you've ever thrown down some coins at Cache Creek Casino in Brooks (Yolo County), it is very likely Bill Harland knows who you are. Harland, the casino's vice president of table games and a 20-year veteran of the gaming...

The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians is trying to find out where $14 million in tribal gaming money went in California. Tribes contribute a portion of their revenues to the Indian Gaming Special Distribution Fund. The money, about $30...

The Dry Creek Band of Pomo Indians of California reported a 5 percent drop in gaming revenues for the first quarter of the year. "The economic environment remains challenging," John Cirrincione, the chief operating officer of River Rock Casino,...

"Butte County keeps spending taxpayer money on a losing bet. It's time to stop fighting and start talking. Butte County supervisors decided to gamble with taxpayer money. So far they are more than $300,000 in the hole. Wise gamblers would...

The United Auburn Indian Community of California expects to complete work on a casino expansion project in mid-2010. The tribe started work on the Thunder Valley Casino last year but stopped construction due to the downturn in the economy....

The Mechoopda Tribe of California said officials in Butte County, California, are wrong about a proposed casino. The tribe is seeking to acquire 645 acres in trust. But only 100 acres will be developed, and of that, the casino will...

The Cloverdale Rancheria of Pomo Indians of California is moving forward with plans for a casino after winning a "restored" lands exception from the National Indian Gaming Commission. The tribe recently acquired 79 acres next to its original rancheria. The...

Supervisors in Butte County, California, voted 4-1 to continue fighting a casino proposed by the Mechoopda Tribe "Butte County will not stand idly by while massive new casinos destroy its open space, groundwater and other natural resources," Oroville Supervisor Bill...

The Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians has eliminated jobs at its recently opened Red Hawk Casino in northern California. The casino employed 1,750 full-time equivalents when it opened in December. Now it's down to 1,500 full-time equivalents. "We think...

"Federal legislation backed by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and California Senator Barbara Boxer are a dagger poised at the heart of California’s Native American tribes. Most Californians are unaware of the impact of two federal bills, one, now law,...

The Blue Lake Rancheria of California will open a new hotel at the Blue Lake Casino in June. The tribe reduced the size of the project due to the economy. The 102-room hotel was built to showcase "green" technologies....

The United Auburn Indian Community of California has laid off 5 percent of employees at the Thunder Valley Casino. Fewer than 100 part-time employees were let go, a spokesperson said. The economy and competition from a nearby casino were blamed....

The United Auburn Indian Community of California restarted work on an expansion of the Thunder Valley Casino. The tribe started work last year but halted it amid the downturn in the economy. The project were downscaled in response. "It...

The Quechan Nation didn't want to close a bridge that leads to its casino due to economic concerns, President Mike Jackson said. The tribe lost money at the Quechan Paradise Casino‎ when the Quechan Paradise Casino‎ was closed last year,...

The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear two gaming compact cases involving tribes in California. The Cachil Dehe Band of Wintun Indians and the Rincon Band of Luiseno Indians each signed compacts in 1999 that theoretically promised them up...

The Twentynine Palms Band of Mission Indians has fired the general manager of the Spotlight 29 Casino in southern California. Raymond DelFiandra said he was told about the decision on Monday. His administrative assistant was also let go. DelFiandra said...

"Our view: It's time for the county and the Mechoopda to start talking. The dismissal of Butte County's lawsuit against the Mechoopda tribe in an effort to block a casino near the intersection of Highways 149 and 99 would seem...

A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit aimed at stopping the Mechoopda Tribe of California from building a casino. The tribe plans a casino on a 645-acre site in Butte County. The National Indian Gaming Commission said the tribe qualified for...

The tribe wanted to open a casino on an allotment but two federal agencies blocked the effort.

The La Posta Band of Mission Indians is cutting hours and jobs at its small casino in southern California. The La Posta Casino will close from 2am to 6am Mondays through Thursdays. The facility used to be open 24 hours...

A lawmaker in California is pursuing a state constitutional amendment to require local approval of proposed tribal casinos. Assemblymember Jared Huffman (D), who has criticized "reservation shopping," said the amendment could require approval by voters or an intergovernmental agreement. He...

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals lifted an injunction in a charity bingo case in California. The charities and churches have been operating electronic gaming machines that tribes and the state say are illegal. A judge issued an injunction that...

Tribes in southern California are developing a regional transportation system to serve their casinos and their communities. The Reservation Transportation Authority consists of 17 tribes in San Diego County. They are hoping the system will provide alternative transportation options for...

The Dry Creek Band of the Pomo Indians saw an 11 percent drop in gaming revenues in the last quarter of 2008 and a 6 percent drop for the entire year. River Rock Casino reported $31.4 million in revenues in...

The Pinoleville Band of Pomo Indians cleared a major step by signing a gaming compact with California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) last week but there are still some hurdles to clear before the tribe opens its first casino. The biggest...

The Jamul Band of Kumeyaay Indians won't be affected by the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Carcieri v. Salazar, Chairman Kenneth Meza said. The tribe plans to build a casino on its 6-acre reservation in southern California. The land is...

After spending more than $12 million on the project, the Coyote Valley Band of Pomo Indians of California has put a $50 million casino expansion on hold. The tribe is waiting for the economy to improve, The Santa Rosa...

"Perched high atop the Alexander Valley in Geyserville, River Rock Casino has what other casinos in the Bay Area lack: a glorious view. While you can't spot vineyards from the gaming floor, the bustling casino offers a cornucopia of...

The Pinoleville Band of Pomo Indians announced plans for a casino after signing a compact with California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R). The tribe plans a casino with up to 900 slot machines. The compact requires the tribe to share 15...

The Ione Band of Miwok Indians is worried that the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Carcieri v. Salazar will affect the tribe's plans for a casino in northern California. The Bureau of Indian Affairs promised to place land in trust...

Without debate or a hearing in the 111th Congress, the Senate on Thursday passed a bill to limit the Lytton Band of Pomo Indians from expanding its off-reservation casino in San Pablo, California. The tribe acquired the San Pablo...

The board of supervisors in Yuba County, California, plans to revise a letter regarding the effects of the proposed Enterprise Rancheria casino. The board voted 4-0 earlier this week to tell the BIA that the casino won't have a detrimental...

The Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians opened the Red Hawk Casino to record crowds in December and officials in Nevada say the new facility is to blame for a whopping 23.7 percent decline in their gaming revenues. The...

The board of supervisors in Yuba County, California, agreed on Tuesday to send a letter to the Bureau of Indian Affairs that speaks favorably of the proposed Enterprise Rancheria casino. The letter says the casino will generate 1,933 permanent jobs,...

"I must confess I have Billy Joel's entire catalog of CDs and vinyl LPs. As a high school kid in Ohio in the 1980s, I loved his songs and lyrics, especially his older stuff. I was honored to get...

The board of supervisors in Yuba County, California, will vote on a letter that takes a favorable view of the Enterprise Rancheria casino. Supervisor John Nicoletti said the letter isn't an "endorsement" of the project. But with the economy in...

California tribes are paying close attention to litigation that will determine whether charities and non-profits can offer electronic gaming machines. The tribes, who aren't parties to the litigation, say their gaming compacts promised them exclusivity. They say charities and...

"Nevada Statute 465.075 states: "It is unlawful for any person at a licensed gaming establishment to use, or possess with the intent to use, any device to assist: 1. in projecting the outcome of the game; 2. in keeping...

A federal judge heard arguments in a California county's lawsuit that seeks to stop the Mechoopda Tribe from opening a casino. Butte County sued the National Indian Gaming Commission over an Indian lands opinion that stated the tribe was "restored"...

"We’ve long thought the Calexico casino project would be good for the city and it’s nice to finally see a bit of movement on that front, but we hope the city isn’t putting all its eggs in one basket prematurely....

The Alturas Rancheria of California says rumors about a casino opening are untrue. The tribe plans to open a casino in Yreka. But after breaking ground on the project, only a smoke shop has opened at the site. A local...

The Campo Kumeyaay Nation paid a California woman $500,000 to settle a slip and fall lawsuit stemming from an accident at the tribe's casino. Celeste Bluehawk took the tribe to court after she was injured at the Golden Acorn Casino....

The United Auburn Indian Community of California will resume work on a hotel at its casino. The tribe halted construction at the Thunder Valley Casino amid the downturn in the economy. Work will start up in mid-April but the...

"I am writing to take issue with Corky Faciutto's comments in the Jan. 27 Daily Democrat about the jobs provided by Cache Creek Casino Resort. I have lived in the Capay Valley for 28 years and have worked at the...

The Pala Band of Mission Indians of California expects to open a major expansion of its casino by the end of May. The tribe began work on the Pala Casino Spa and Resort last December. Officials are concerned about...

"California gaming authorities tipped off their Nevada counterparts to a blackjack card-counting program that can be used on either the Apple iPhone or the Apple iPod Touch portable music player. "The program calculates the true count and does it significantly...

"Ah, Rule 19! Here is California’s cert petition — california-petition-for-cert Just so everyone knows, I called this YEARS ago! See my “The Comparative Rights of Indispensable Sovereigns.” :) Questions Presented (from the cert petition): In 1999, the State of California...

The downturn in the economy prompted the United Auburn Indian Community of California to fire two top casino executives and place another one on leave, a spokesperson said. Daily management of the Thunder Valley Casino will be handled by...

The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians of California will debut a $76 million performance arena at one of its casinos this week. With just 2,001 seats, The Show at the Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa in Rancho Mirage...

The company behind the casino for the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians of Michigan, plans to file for bankruptcy in March, The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports. But Station Casinos says the filing won't affect plans for the project due to...

The California Gambling Control Commission has backed away from a rule that would have required tribes to open their casinos and financial records to state regulators. The commission proposed the rule after a federal appeals court struck down the federal...

The Berry Creek Rancheria is the latest California tribe to eliminate casino jobs. The tribe laid off 50 employees at the Gold Country Casino. That's about 7 percent of the workforce. "As the whole economy has suffered, so has the...

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-California) introduced a bill on Wednesday to block the Lytton Band of Pomo Indians from expanding its Class II facility without gaining state and federal approval. The tribe acquired the San Pablo Lytton Casino site through an...

The Enterprise Rancheria, Estom Yumeka Maidu Tribe of California hopes to win approval of an off-reservation casino. The tribe says the 40-acre site is part of its aboriginal territory. But the Mooretown Rancheria and some local officials describe the project...

"Deals that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger negotiated with Indian gambling tribes have not produced the huge increases in revenue the governor predicted. Indian gambling will bring $362 million into the state general fund this year, $123 million less than expected. It...

Two California tribes are being sued over a proposed off-reservation casino in the Bay Area. The Guidiville Band of Pomo Indians plans to build a casino at former Point Molate Naval Fuel Depot in the city of Richmond. The Rumsey...

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday rejected a petition in Harrah's Operating Company v. NGV Gaming. The case involved a dispute between Harrah's Entertainment and NGV Gaming. The two companies are litigating over contracts they signed with the Guidiville Band...

"I was intrigued by Yolo County Supervisor Matt Rexroad's guest opinion last Sunday in The Daily Democrat regarding the impasse between the Rumsey Band of Wintun Indians and Yolo County over our planned transformation of Cache Creek Casino Resort...

Tribes in southern California have eliminated over 500 jobs at their casinos since last summer and more cuts are on the way. The Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians laid off 400 people, the most of any tribe. The Morongo Band...

Tribes in California have seen double-digit drops in their gaming revenues, according to one casino executive. "Based on what I know, a lot of the Indian casinos are down double digits," Rich Hoffman, the chief executive officer for Jackson...

" It is unsettling that The Bee editorialized on the complex negotiations between the Rumsey Band of Wintun Indians and Yolo County over our planned Cache Creek Destination Resort project without ever contacting the tribe. Had it done so,...

A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit that challenged the Class III gaming compact for the Buena Vista Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians of California. Amador County sued the Interior Department, alleging the compact violated the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. But Judge...

The economy will be high on the agenda at the 14th annual Western Indian Gaming Conference this week. California Nations Indian Gaming Association initially thought about focusing on energy policy, a spokesperson said. But the nation's economic woes are taking...

The California Nations Indian Gaming Association holds it annual conference this week. The Western Indian Gaming Conference attracts tribal leaders, federal officials, attorneys and gaming industry representatives for a trade show and discussions on topics like tax policy and...

The new casino owned by the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians sees an average of 19,000 visitors a day, an executive said. The Red Hawk Casino opened to large crowds on December 17, 2008. But planning by the...

The United Auburn Indian Community of California will resume construction on a casino expansion in the coming months. The tribe began work on the Thunder Valley Casino last year but halted work in November amid concerns about the economy. The...

The Rumsey Band of Wintun Indians says it won't give into the demands of a county over the proposed expansion of its casino in northern California. The tribe already contributes $5 million a year to Yolo County to address the...