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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. | |
Casinos a big draw for local Asians
10/19/2008, Sacramento Bee
Every morning at 9 a.m. in front of the Cathay Bank at the Asian shopping center on 65th Street, fortune hunters line up for the free shuttle bus to Thunder Valley Casino. The burgundy shuttle will become a rolling United Nations, boarded by Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese, Laotians, Filipinas and on one morning last week, a handful of African Americans and whites, too. When the shuttle pulls up, a few Chinese women spill out. "We played baccarat all night long," explained Helen Yee, 71. How did they do? "Not too good." "Asians love to gamble," declares another Chinese woman in line. That's something casinos already know. From 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., casino shuttles and private charter buses make pickups in Asian neighborhoods throughout Northern California.
Family Of Colusa Bus Crash Victim Files Lawsuit 10/17/2008, CBS CHANNEL 13 SACRAMENTO (CBS13) The family of one of the victims killed in a deadly bus crash may be cashing in on the Colusa Casino. In a shocking move today, an attorney for the family said they are seeking to file suit against the casino. Nine people lost their lives after a bus, carrying more than 40 people to the Colusa Casino, crashed near Williams on a rural road. "I am angry, but I don't know what going on and what caused the accident," says Doua. Doua Vang lost his mother, Lou, in that crash. Tomorrow, Vang's attorney is set to file a lawsuit against the casino, something that legal experts say is a tactic to target anyone possibly involved. "You sue anybody and everybody within a 100 mile radius who may have insurance or deep pockets and that's why they are going to go after the casino," Harlan Antler, attorney. Attorney Harlan Antler says for the family to win, it really depends on the business arrangement between the casino and the bus company. | |
Needles, tribe may continue talks about planned casino10/17/2008, Mohave Daily News
NEEDLES - Talks may soon resume between the city of Needles and the Fort Mojave Indian Tribe regarding the tribe's proposed casino project. A lengthy and somewhat contentious debate took place at the city council meeting Tuesday, resulting in an agreement by both sides to return to the negotiating table. The city council vote was unanimous. All council members were present, as were Tribal Chairman Tim Williams and David Wolff, attorney for the tribe. About 20 tribal members were also in attendance.
'Panoply of concerns' raised over the latest NIGC regulations 10/17/2008, Indian Country Today
WASHINGTON - National Indian Gaming Commission regulations on technical standards for gaming machines and minimum internal control standards at casinos have generated some of the same concerns that attend NIGC's every regulatory move in the $26 billion industry. Especially in the technical standards, NIGC continues to seek a "bright line" between Class II gaming machines that offer bingo, and Class III slot machines. The Class III machines are more lucrative and require a tribal-state compact under the guiding law, the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. IGRA permits Class II bingo without a compact, but NIGC Chairman Phil Hogen argues that the so-called one-touch bingo machines have evolved into Class III games of chance - illegal without a compact.
Hogen foresees fears realized in economic downturn
10/17/2008, Indian Country Today
WASHINGTON - National Indian Gaming Commission Chairman Phil Hogen, officially withdrawing the rules he hoped would lay down his long-sought "bright line" between Class II and Class III gaming machines, reprised the scenario he termed a "nightmare" at the Global Gaming Expo, or "G2E," conference in Las Vegas a year ago.
GAMBLING BEYOND NEVADA: Eyeing markets and taking chances 10/19/2008, Las Vegas Review Journal Amid collapsing credit markets and sinking stock prices, gaming industry leaders are looking for any piece of positive news. They hope voters in five states will give them a reason to smile come Nov. 4. Voters in Colorado, Maine, Maryland, Missouri and Ohio are evaluating gaming expansion or changes to existing gaming laws. The measures, different in size and scope, have a common thread: increased gaming opportunities in exchange for the potential of increased tax dollars.
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20 years of Indian fortunes, feuds
10/16/2008, San Diego Union Tribune
Much has changed in the 20 years since Congress enacted the landmark Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, which set the ground rules for Indian casinos and changed life forever at Viejas and many other reservations.
Indian gaming dominates 20 years later 10/17/2008, Las Vegas Review-Journal
WASHINGTON -- Twenty years after President Reagan signed the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, tribal casinos rake in more money than those in Las Vegas and Atlantic City combined. "I believe the expectation of almost every lawmaker then was that the future of Indian gaming was going to be in high stakes bingo," said Phil Hogen, chairman of the National Indian Gaming Commission. Instead, about 90 percent of the $26 billion in Indian gaming revenue last year came from casinos. By comparison, Nevada casinos collected $12.8 billion and New Jersey casinos collected $4.9 billion. Indian gaming employs more than 700,000 workers; more than half of them are not American Indians. Frank Fahrenkopf, president of the American Gaming Association, said the act signed Oct. 17, 1988, by Reagan "changed the landscape" of the casino industry.
State Legislation to Watch
December 1- the 2009 Legislative Regular Session Convenes for Organizational Session
Federal Legislation to Watch
H. R. 2963 - Congressman Issa Transfers without regulatory environmental process 1,178 ac. in Riverside and San Diego Counties to the Pechanga Band. AMENDED TO INCLUDE:
No Gaming. Maintained as open space and construction consistent with this purpose.
No existing right of ways or right of use prior to the date of enactment are affected.
H.R. 3490 - Congressman Radanovich Declares that 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.
H. R. 5680 Congressman Grijalva - A bill to extend leases for Morongo and transfer money to CRIT.
S. 2676 - Senator Vitter - Common Sense Indian Gambling Reform Act of 2008. To make technical corrections to IGRA. Consultation with local government.
S. 3320 - Tribal Law and Order Act - to be introduced in early 2009.
LINKS and Legislation
Stand Up For California - Library
Stand Up For California - Helpful Links
Compulsive Gambling Institute www.gamblingaddiction.cc 1-800-GAMBLER 24 Hour Problem Gambling Help Line - Tom Tucker, Chief Executive Officer
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