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Stand Up for California! is a statewide organization with a focus on gambling issues including tribal gaming, card clubs, horse racing, charitable gaming and the state lottery. | |
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Plea deals reached in murder-for-hire case involving Mexican Mafia, tribal members
4/17/2008, The Press-Enterprise
Two San Manuel tribal members and a purported Mexican Mafia kingpin pleaded guilty Thursday in a murder-for-hire case. Salvador Hernandez, a 43-year-old Bloomington resident identified by authorities as a Mexican Mafia leader, agreed to a 10-year prison sentence. He received five years for attempted murder and another five years for criminal gang activity. The tribal members, Stacy Cheyenne Barajas-Nunez, 25, and her brother Erik Barajas, 35, signed deals that will allow them to remain at home and be monitored electronically. Barajas-Nunez agreed to a 365-day home detention sentence and her brother agreed to 180 days along with multiple other conditions. | |
Migden, Nation oppose casino; Leno says little can be done
4/18/2008, The Press Democrat
State Senate candidates Carole Migden and Joe Nation said Thursday they oppose efforts to open a casino near Rohnert Park, while Mark Leno said there is little legislators can do about it. Speaking at a candidates forum in Mill Valley, Migden and Nation said they're categorically against the casino proposal by the Federated Indians of the Graton Rancheria. Although he raised questions about the effects on water and traffic, Leno said the tribe had congressional approval and there was little that could be done on a state level to stop it.
State senator drops electronic bingo bill
4/18/2008, San Diego Union Tribune
The bill, SB 1626, would have legalized electronic bingo cards, like those used in some versions of bingo machines. The measure was scheduled for its first committee hearing Tuesday. Tribes contend that bingo machines violate a monopoly on slot machines and other electronic gaming devices that is guaranteed in their state gambling agreements. A breach of that monopoly would allow them to suspend hundreds of millions of dollars a year in payments to the state, one tribal attorney has warned. Representatives of WIND, which runs a shelter for homeless children, could not be reached for comment. But the president of another charity that depends on the same machines was disappointed, if not surprised, by the move. "With strong opposition from the tribes, my gut feeling was he was going to let it go," said Doug Pringle, president of Disabled Sports USA of Sacramento.
Indian-gaming regulator fights tribe consultation bill
4/18/2008, Las Vegas Review Journal
Hogen appeared last week before the House Resources Committee, which Rahall chairs, to testify against the bill. On Thursday, Hogen said his agency already has a consultation policy and the debate over the new Class II gambling definition has gone on too long. "The thing is, I've got to get this done," Hogen said. "I mean, I've been at it now for more than five years. It's time to draw this bright line so the industry, the manufacturers, the tribes and the states know what's going on. "Right now, there's confusion," he said. "That's not good for the industry and if and when it appears that there's a loss of integrity in the system, then the goose that laid the golden egg will be at risk. I don't want to be responsible for that."
Casino job applications being taken
4/17/2008, The Telegraph
A total of 1,750 jobs will open in Shingle Springs in coming months at the Red Hawk Casino, now under construction near U.S. Highway 50 east of town. The Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians started taking job applications early this month via the Internet. The coming gaming facility formerly was known as the Foothill Oaks Casino. Applications for employment at the casino are being accepted through an online system at the www.redhawkcasino.com Internet address, the tribe announced.
Cash Systems signs new contract
4/17/2008, Casino Times
LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- Cash Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CKNN), a provider of cash access solutions for the gaming industry, today announced a new multi-year contract with Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, where Cash Systems will provide it's casinopc for cash advance services all-in-1 atm services, eCash checking services for check guarantee and full service booth operation. Fantasy Springs Resort Casino is located in Indio, California and provides a mix of nearly 2,000 slot machines, 40 table games featuring Mini-Baccarat, California Carps, 3 & 4 Card Poker, Pai Gow, Spanish 21 and Blackjack, state of the art off track betting, live poker room and bingo.
World Poker Association Goes Toe to Toe with WPT Brass
4/17/2008, Press Release Web
World Poker Association Chairman, Wendeen H. Eolis explains, "The furor has centered on the WPT's insensitivity to the varying financial means of 'working players' and more broadly on the decision to compel a charitable donation in an event labeled as a championship." The WPT has never exacted such a pledge in any previous championship event. Eolis called upon the WPT to "reverse this mistake" for the future. Today, Lyle Berman, Chairman of the Board of World Poker Tour Enterprises told Eolis, "The WPT has re-evaluated its decision to make a charitable donation a condition for participation in the WPT Ladies Championship." He added, "In the future there will be no such requirement in a WPT championship event."
New hotel boosts tribe's influence
4/18/2008, The Desert Sun
As the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians rolls out the red carpet for tonight's invitation-only gala celebrating Indian culture and the vibrant $300million, 16-story hotel, Tribal Chairman Richard Milanovich shared his thoughts about this pivotal moment in tribal history: | |
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Upcoming Hearings
Public Comment Deadline: Off Reservation Proposal -of the Enterpise Rancheria proposed fee to trust land acquisition of 40 acres and the subsequent development of an off reservation casino resort complex in Yuba County. Mail comments to Amy Dutschke, acting Regional Director, Pacific Regional Office, BIA, 2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento, CA. 92825. Written comments will be accepted through May 5, 2008.
Public Comment Deadline: Comments on the Final EIS for the Scotts Valley Casino in the City of Richmond. 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 28, 2008.
Upcoming Conference
North American Regulators Association June 10-13, 2008 Register on Line: www.nagra.org
22nd National Conference on Problem Gambling. June 26-28, 2008, Long Beach, California. Register online: www.ncpgambling.org/conference
INDIAN COUNTRY'S WINNING HAND, October 16-17, 2008, Radisson Fort McDowell Resort & Casino Scottsdale/Fountian Hills, Arizona. Register online: www.law.asu.edu/ilp
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.
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 -Game of Bingo to be played by machine with electronic cards. Slot machines?
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 - Prohibits the Governor from negotiating or concluding a gaming compact with a tribe that does not have land held in trust on which the gaming is to occur and that is not federally recognized.
SCA 20 -Sen. Vincent - Constitutional Amendment authorizes Roulette and Craps on California Indian lands for compact tribes.
Federal Legislation to Watch
H.R. 3490 - Congressman Radanovich
Declares taht specificed federal lands are to be held in trust by the US for the benefit of the Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuik Indians for non gaming purposes.
H.R. 5608 Congressman Rahall - mandates that adminstration directly consults with tribes on policies that directly affect their lives.
S. 2676 - Senator Vitter - Common Sense Indian Gambling Reform Act of 2008. To make technical corrections to IGRA. Consultation with local government.
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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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