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Porterville Casino Could be Moving; Not Everyone Happy
3/28/2008, KMPH.COM
The only frequent visitors to a 40-acre plot of land in western Porterville right now are the bees. But soon that all may change. "The idea here is to create a whole bunch of jobs to keep people here," said Rodney Martin from the Tule River Tribe. Tule River Tribe officials like Martin say they want to move the Eagle Mountain Casino 13 miles west to the Valley floor. "You don't see a whole lot going on right here, that will change," Martin said. Along with the casino, are plans for a 200-room hotel. Tribe officials say the entire project is expected to bring more than one-thousand jobs to the Porterville area. The prospect of new jobs and possible economic development in western Porterville is very appealing to Mayor Cameron Hamilton.
Casino's plans add threat for Reno area
3/29/2008, Reno Gazzet Journal
The Thunder Valley Resort Casino near Sacramento, considered California's chief tribal gaming rival to Reno, plans an expansion project that will dwarf any of the recent renovations and expansions in the Reno market and could pose a serious threat to the future health of Reno-Tahoe gaming, experts said this week. Thunder Valley, off Interstate 80, east of Reno and Lake Tahoe, plans to add a 23-story, five-star hotel plus a nine-story parking garage and a 3,000-seat theater. But the plans don't stop there. The United Auburn Indian resort also will expand its casino floor to 450,000 square feet, add two 30,000-square-foot ballrooms plus a spa, pool and other amenities. The theater will be developed by Montreal-based Cino Plus, the same design firm behind Cirque du Soleil theaters. The hotel tower will compare with the Ritz-Carlton and Four Seasons, general manager Scott Garawitz said. Several of the suites will be more than 2,500 square feet, rivaling those given to the highest of high rollers in Las Vegas.
Bloch speaks out on poker benefits, ban
3/28/2008, Pokerlistings.com
Despite all of poker's positive aspects and potential as a learning tool, the game's opponents are hell-bent on making it illegal for the public to enjoy the game on the Internet. Poker enthusiasts prone to believing the sky is falling, especially in the wake of the UIGEA, might want to take note of Bloch's expert opinion.
The Path to Legal Online Gambling
3/28/2008, Online Casino Reports
The 2006 ban of online gambling seems to be weakening as the House Financial Service Committee (HFSC) begins a review of the regulations proposed by the Department of Treasury (DT). Prior to many state bills in past years, Barney Frank, Chairman of the HFSC, believes the hearings will suggest that the ban is futile. The regulations were proposed in order to enforce the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA), also known as the 2006 ban of online gambling. The concept of the review was published on October 4th gathering over 200 comments from politicians and interest groups. Many of the responses were questioning the effectiveness of the regulations.
Marysville - Casino Hearing April 9th
3/28/2008, Appeal -Democrat
The Bureau of Indian Affairs will hold an April 9 public hearing in Marysville on the draft environmental impact statement for the proposed Enterprise Rancheria hotel-casino on Forty Mile Road. The document is at www.enterpriseeis.com. The hearing will start at 6 p.m. in the Elks Lodge, 920 D St., Marysville. Written comments, which will be accepted through May 5, can be sent to Amy Dutschke, Acting Regional Director, Pacific Regional Office, Bureau of Indian Affairs, 2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento, California 95825. Letters should say "DEIS Comments, Enterprise Rancheria, Gaming Facility and Hotel Fee-to-Trust Acquisition Project," on the first page.
Tribal Casinos Find Obeying Alcohol Rules Easy as ABC
3/28/2008, San Diego Business Journal
The rules are different on American Indian reservations. Visitors may play slot machines. The legal landscape is different. But not everything is different. Like every other business that sells alcohol in California, casino owners have to answer to the ABC. More formally known as the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, the state agency has the power to give or withhold liquor licenses. The fact that tribes sell to the general public is a key reason that the ABC gets involved, says Robin Van Dyke, district supervisor for the ABC in San Marcos. "If they weren't selling to the general public, they wouldn't have to do anything," said Van Dyke. The U.S. Supreme Court upheld a ruling in 1982 that state and local law enforcement have jurisdiction when it comes to enforcement of alcoholic beverage laws on tribal reservations, says John Carr, spokesman for the ABC in Sacramento
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Upcoming Hearings
Public Comment deadline: Expansion of facility - Draft Environmental Impact Report presented by United Auburn Indian Community. Written comments will be accepted through April 10, 2008.
Public Scoping Hearing: Off Reservation Proposal - Manzanita Band in the City of Calexico. Mail comments to Amy Dutschke, acting Regional Director, Pacific Regional Office, BIA, 2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento, CA. 92825. Written comments will be accepted through April 7, 2008.
Public Scoping Hearing: Off Reservation Proposal - April 9, 2008, 6 p.m., Elks Lodge in Marysville, 920 D. Street. The hearing is for public input related to the enterpise Rancheria proposed fee to trust land acquistion of 40 acres and the subsequent development of an off reservation casino resort complex in Yuba County.
Upcoming Conference
North American Regulators Association June 10-13, 2008 www.nagra.org Register on Line.
LINKS and Legislation
Stand Up For California - Library
Stand Up For California - Helpful Links
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State Legislation to Watch
AJR 39 - Assembly Member Huffman
Reaffirmation of the Winneman Wintu.
AB 1314 -Assembly Member Strikland
BINGOAn Act to amend section 326.5 of the California Penal Code.
AB 1924 - Assembly Member Jeffries Changes the amount of charitable BINGO funds that may be used for overhead and other operational expenses.
AB 2026 - Assembly Member Levine -
The California Gambling Control in conjunction with the Department of Justice, shall perform a study and report its findings to the legislature by June 30, 2009, regarding authorizing interstate Internet Poker.
AB 62 - Sen. Florez - Permits the transfer of funds from the General Fund to the Revenue Sharing Trust Fund for eligible recipient tribes should there be insufficient funds in the Special Distribution Fund.
SB 331 -Sen. Romero - Imposes a state mandated local program to address tresspassers on tribal lands
SB 996 Sen. Florez - This bill would require each tribal state gaming compact entered into between the State of California and a federally recognized Indian Tribe to be ratified by the Legislature in Separate Statute.
SB 1201 - Sen. Battin Increases the aggregate limit of gaming devices licenses available for issuance under the 1999 compacts to 122,000 slot machines without tribal state compact renegotiations.
SB 1328 - Sen. Cedillo - deletes the $250 limitation on bingo game payouts, thereby allows for an award of any denomination. (currently limit $250.00 per pot)
SB - 1570 - Sen. Vincent - Requires the Governor to use best efforts to enusre that satellite wagering on horese racing is one of the forms of gaming offered at any gambling facility authorized under a compact.
SB 1626 - Sen. Steinberg - Regulates the game of BINGO.
SB 1679 - Sen. Florez - Lottery Reform Bill: requires that not less than 87% of revenues be used for prizes and to benefit education, 13% for lottery expenses. Total revenue to education will be decided by the Commission but not less than 1,200,000,000. Requires 1 million to be committed to the Office of Problem and Pathological gambling. Defines, expands and loosens restrictions of lottery game themes.
SB 1695 - Sen. Florez - This bill limits the locations of tribal casinos. Does it limit the political power of local elected?
SCA 20 -Sen. Vincent - Constitutional Amendment authorizes Roulette and Craps on California Indian lands for compact tribes.
Federal Legislation to Watch
H.R. 5608 Congressman Rahall - mandates that adminstration directly consults with tribes on policies that directly affect their lives.
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Last sessions legislation rumored to have legs.
H. R. 3709To authorize inter-tribal transfers of authority in leases between the Ewiiaapaayp Band of Kumeyaay and the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay, and for other purposes. (Introduced in House October 1, 2007)
S. 1347 - Sentaor Feinstein: A bill to amend the Omnibus Indian Advancement Act to modify the
date as of which certain tribal land of the Lytton Rancheria of California is deemed to be held in trust and to provide for the conduct of certain activities on the land. Passed the Senate 11-6-07 and sent to the House.
Rule Making
http://thomas.loc.gov/
Guidance on taking off reservation land into trust for gaming purposes
Jan 3, 2008, Carl Artman, Asst. Secretary of the Interior, BIA
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