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.

Ramos raises safety stakes
4/18/2008, San Berdino Sun
In October 2006, tribal security officers, San Bernardino police officers and DEA agents met on the reservation. Kevin Villalobos, then a lieutenant with the tribe's security force, told agents and police that gang members had infiltrated the reservation and were extorting some of the tribal members for money, according to DEA documents. His job was subsequently eliminated. Villalobos declined comment for this report. Deputy District Attorney Doug Poston, who is prosecuting the Mexican Mafia case, doesn't believe the reservation is being infiltrated by gang members and the Mexican Mafia. "It is not my opinion, at this point, that La Eme has somehow completely infiltrated Indian gaming," said Poston. "My belief is that there are some tribal members that choose to affiliate themselves with members of La Eme." La Eme, Spanish for the letter M, is another name for the Mexican Mafia.

 
Agency defends gambling proposal
4/19/2008, Tulsa World - Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON -- A key federal official told a Senate panel that his agency's controversial proposals on Indian gambling would have a "draconian" impact on tribal revenue generated by bingo-type machines. "But that doesn't necessarily make them wrong," said Phil Hogen, chairman of the National Indian Gaming Commission. "That's a fact of life." Testifying this week before the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, Hogen insisted that his agency had no choice but to adopt new regulations to draw a "bright line" between the Class II, bingo-type machines and Class III devices. Hogen confirmed that 57 percent of such devices nationwide would not be allowed under the proposed regulation. "I consider them unlawful right now," he said.
  • Official determined to act on bingo machine changes
    4/18/2008, KSWO - Oklahoma -Associated Press
    OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - The head of the National Indian Gaming Commission says he's determined to act on a controversial change involving electronic bingo machines. NIGC chairman Philip Hogen told the Senate Indian Affairs Committee today that it's past time to draw a bright line between Class II and Class III gaming. According to a story from The Oklahoman's Washington bureau, Hogen told the committee he thinks nearly 60% of tribes' electronic bingo machines are unlawful.

  • 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."

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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

    International Masters of Gaming Law Conference, May 21-23, 2008. Villagio Inn & Spa, Napa Valley, California. Register online: www.imglconference.com/conference.htm
     

    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

    archive

    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

     
    Proposed Rule - Secretarily Approval of Compacts within 45 Days
    Feb. 11, 2008, Asst. Secretary - Carl Artman - Dept. of the Inter
     
    Notice of Approval of Class III Tribal Gaming Ordinances
    3/30/2008, Federal Register 3-17-2008 NIGC
    SUMMARY: The purpose of this notice is to inform the public of class III gaming ordinances approved by the Chairman of the National Indian Gaming Commission. EFFECTIVE DATE: This notice is effective upon date of publication in the Federal Register.