California Tribal Casinos & Indian Gaming | 2021 News Archive

California sports betting initiative qualifies for Nov 8, 2022 ballot

September 7, 2021

A ballot measure titled "California Legalize Sports Betting on American Indian Lands Initiative" has qualified for the election ballot on Nov. 8, 2022. If passed by voters, the measure will amend the state constitution and existing laws with the following changes:

1. Sports betting would become legal at all California Indian gaming casinos four racetracks (Golden Gate Fields, Santa Anita, Los Alamitos and Del Mar). Bets could be placed on all professional, college or amateur sporting events. The minimum betting age would be 21.

2. The state would receive a 10% tax from sports betting profits. These tax revenues would be allocated with 15% going to the California Department of Health, 15% to the Bureau of Gambling Control, and 70% to the General Fund.

3. Roulette, craps and other dice games would be legal at tribal casinos after amendments to the tribal-state gaming compacts

California Gov. Newsom signs gaming compacts with five tribes

August 26, 2021

This month Gov. Newsom signed 25-year gaming compacts with six tribes. Each compact must now be ratified by the state legislature and approved by the U.S. Department of the Interior. The compacts were signed August 10, 2021.

Each of the six tribes are recognized by the federal government and qualified to own a casino under terms of the U.S. Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. That federal act can authorize Class II gaming on tribal land without state approval. A gaming compact with the state grants the tribes Class III gaming in exchange for payments from a share of revenues.

Here are the six California tribes with new gaming compacts:

Cahto Indian Tribe of the Laytonville Rancheria
Red Fox Casino
200 Cahto Drive
Laytonville, California 95454
(888) 4-REDFOX

This 25-year compact with the Cahto Indian Tribe was signed August 10, 2021 by Gov. Newsom. It authorizes Class III gaming with up to 1,200 gaming devices at up to three gambling facilities on the tribe's property. Read the compact: Cahto Tribe Compact August 2021.

Ewiiaapaayp Band of Kumeyaay Indians
4054 Willows Road
Alpine, CA 91901

This 25-year compact with the Ewiiaapaayp Band of Kumeyaay Indians was signed August 10, 2021 by Gov. Newsom. It authorizes Class III gaming with up to 1,200 gaming devices at up to two gambling facilities on the tribe's property. Read the compact: EBKI Compact August 2021.

Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians
Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino
711 Lucky Lane
Coarsegold, California 93614
866-7-WIN-WIN

This 25-year compact with the Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians was signed August 10, 2021 by Gov. Newsom. It authorizes Class III gaming with up to 3,500 gaming devices at up to two gambling facilities on the tribe's property. Read the compact: PRCI Compact August 2021.

Resighini Rancheria
156 Klamath Beach Rd
Klamath, CA 95548

This 25-year compact with the Resighini Rancheria was signed August 10, 2021 by Gov. Newsom. It authorizes Class III gaming with up to 1,200 gaming devices at up two gambling facilities on the tribe's property. Read the compact: Resighini Rancheria Compact August 2021.

Sherwood Valley Rancheria of Pomo Indians
Sherwood Valley Casino
100 Kawi Place
Willits, California 95490-4674

This 25-year compact with the Sherwood Valley Rancheria of Pomo Indians was signed August 10, 2021 by Gov. Newsom. It authorizes Class III gaming with up to 1,200 gaming devices at up to three gambling facilities on the tribe's property. Read the compact: Sherwood Valley Rancheria Compact August 2021.

Table Mountain Rancheria
Table Mountain Casino
8184 Table Mountain Road
Friant, California 93626
800-541-3637

This 25-year compact with the Table Mountain Rancheria was signed August 10, 2021 by Gov. Newsom. It authorizes Class III gaming with up to 3,000 gaming devices at up to three gambling facilities on the tribe's property. Read the compact: Table Mountain Rancheria Compact August 2021.

California tribal gaming pacts also specify a percentage of gambling revenues to be paid quarterly to the state. This includes payments into a Revenue Sharing Trust Fund, which is distributed to non-gaming tribes and limited-gaming tribes in California.

California voters will decide sports betting measure in Nov 2022

June 9, 2021

An 18-tribe coalition has successfully submitted enough qualified voter signatures to add a sports betting referendum to the California election ballot in Nov 2022. The announcement was made last month by the California Secretary of State.

If passed by voters, the measure will authorize sports betting inside all Indian gaming casinos across the state. The measure will also give Indian casinos the exclusive rights to craps and roulette. No internet betting will be allowed, and all card clubs are excluded.

Anyone 21 of older will be able to place a sports wager. Sports bets will also be allowed at four racetracks: Golden Gate Fields, Santa Anita, Los Alamitos and Del Mar.

New California Indian casinos possible after federal court ruling

April 11, 2021

A federal judge ruled last week that California is violating tribal sovereignties when renegotiating gaming compacts by demanding compliance with nongaming policies that exceed state jurisdiction. The ruling could lead to future compacts authorizing new Indian gaming casinos on off-reservation lands.

The case was brought in 2019 by five California tribes trying to renegotiate their gaming agreements with the state. U.S. District Judge Anthony Ishii of Fresno said state negotiators "crossed the line" by demanding tribal acceptance of California state policies in child support, spousal support, discrimination, injury cases and construction projects.

The judge said the state demands were outside the scope of the U.S. Indian Gaming regulatory Act.

"By limiting the proper topics for compact negotiations to those that bear a direct relationship to the operation of gaming activities, Congress intended to prevent compacts from being used as subterfuge for imposing State jurisdiction on tribes concerning issues unrelated to gaming."

- U.S. District Judge Anthony Ishii

However, Judge Ishii said California can still negotiate the issues by offering "meaningful concessions" to the tribes. A lawyer for the tribes, Lester Marston, said these concessions could include state approvals for off-reservation Indian casinos.

The ruling applies to nearly 70 tribes currently or soon to be in compact renegotiations with the state.