Artist's rendering of Karuk Tribe casino in Yreka, California. Image from Karuk Casino
The Bureau of Indian Affairs has allowed a Class III gaming compact between the Karuk Tribe and the state of California to go into effect. The compact authorizes one casino with up to 1,500 Class III machines. It requires the tribe to share 10 percent of revenues with the state when more than 350 devices are in operation. A notice published in the Federal Register does not explain why the BIA allowed the compact to go into effect without affirmatively approving or denying it. As a result, the agreement is considered valid but only to the extent that its provisions are "consistent" with the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. The deal requires the tribe to address the off-reservation impacts of the casino. An agreement was reached with the city of Yreka but Siskiyou County has resisted so the parties have entered arbitration. The tribe hopes to break ground on a $35 million casino in the spring of 2015. Plans call for a 36,000 square-foot facility with 500 gaming machines, eight table games, a 100-seat restaurant and a parking area. Get the Story:
Supervisors, public weigh in on Karuk casino arbitration (The Siskiyou Daily News 11/19) Federal Register Notice:
Indian Gaming (November 14, 2014)
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