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.

Thompson still top contender to head Interior
12/10/2008, The Times Standard
With President-elect Barack Obama reportedly only days away from naming his interior secretary, North Coast Congressman Mike Thompson's name remains in the thick of the discussion. The Oregonian reported Monday that the rumor mill was "humming" that Obama would pick Thompson for interior secretary, while the Associated Press had only Thompson and Arizona Congressman Raul Grijalva on its list of candidates for the position. Speculation seems to be mounting, according to a number of papers, that Obama will name his energy and environmental teams by the end of the week.

 Will tribal disenrollments make it onto Obama's radar?
12/10/2008, Capitol Weekly
American Indian activists have high hopes for the new Barack Obama administration -- including the hope that the issue of tribal disenrollments could finally be on the president's radar. Many say they are closely watching who Obama will appoint to head the Department of the Interior, which overseas the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). Meanwhile, the inclusion of disenrollment and other issues of importance to tribes have made it into a list of recommendations for question to ask potential Interior appointees issued by the federal General Accountability Office. Activists, particularly in California, have tried for years to get the BIA to take more action against tribes that disenroll--that is, kick out--members. In some cases, when people are disenrolled from tribes, there is some claim made against the genealogical status as legitimate tribal members. Disenrollments have skyrocketed in recent years, at the same time that casino profits have been kicking in for a few tribes, particularly in California. Up to 2,000 people have been disenrolled from California tribes in the past few years.

New Quechan resort job fair draws hundreds12/9/2008, The Yuma Sun
UPDATED - Hundreds of people flocked Tuesday to the construction site of Quechan Casino Resort in hopes of hitting an early jackpot by landing a much-coveted job in today's rough economy. Up for grabs are about 1,000 jobs at the Quechan Casino Resort, which is slated to open in February 2009. Those jobs range from entry-level positions like housekeeping all the way to top executive spots in departments ranging from marketing to gaming. More than one hopeful applicant liked the prospect of a solid job to Christmas truly coming early for them.

Struggling empires seek to lower costs, buy time 12/9/2008, Las Vegas Sun
With no sign of an economic recovery on the horizon, Station Casinos and Harrah's Entertainment are bargaining with lenders to help resolve their cash flow problems. It's a high stakes poker game: Both companies - loaded up with debt from leveraged buyouts set in motion before the downturn - are determined to stay out of bankruptcy, and lenders are seeking to walk away from the table with as much money as possible. Although Harrah's bondholders appear to be cooperating, a majority of Station bondholders are resisting that company's plan to refinance some of its debt.

Casino Industry Insider news bites 12/9/2008, Gaming Today
by Ray Poirier | Officials of Herbst Gaming have notified the Securities & Exchange Commission that they are discussing restructuring debt with lenders after missing a $4.1 million interest payment. Charles Atwood, a 30-year employee, has announced his retirement as chief financial officer and as vice chairman of the board of directors of Harrah's Entertainment Inc. to take effect on Dec. 19. Despite the problems in the credit market, Station Casinos Inc. denied funding problems for the Mono Indian Casino in Madera, California. The casino awaits federal and state approval.  
Sign up for our Email Newsletter
For Email Marketing you can trust
Deputies honored for cracking Soboba Casino heist in 200712/10/2008, The Press Enterprise
One early August morning last year, Riverside County sheriff's deputies arrived at the Soboba Casino vault to find $1.58 million in casino money missing and three guards bound and gagged in the largest heist in Riverside County history. In less than 36 hours, police had three suspects behind bars and all but about $3,000 of the missing cash returned to the Soboba tribe.

Federal Register - NIGC Annual Fee Rate 12/10/2008, Federal Register SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given, pursuant to 25 CFR 514.1(a) (3), that the National Indian Gaming Commission has adopted final annual fee rates of 0.00% for tier 1 and 0.057% (.00057) for tier 2 for calendar year 2008. These rates shall apply to all assessable gross revenues from each gaming operation under the jurisdiction of the Commission. If a tribe has a certificate of self regulation under 25 CFR part 518, the final fee rate on class II revenues for calendar year 2008 shall be one-half of the annual fee rate, which is 0.0285% (.000285).
 
  
El Dorado expects traffic jams when casino opens
12/10/2008, The Sacramento Bee
El Dorado County public safety and transportation officials are bracing for perhaps the heaviest traffic in the county's history as motorists travel on Highway 50 next week for the opening of a new Indian casino. The Red Hawk Casino is scheduled to open at 7 p.m. Dec. 17 off Highway 50 in Shingle Springs, about nine miles west of Placerville. Capt. Bill Donovan, commander of the California Highway Patrol's Placerville office, said officers will begin directing traffic at 9 a.m. at the main intersection leading to the casino.