14th
August California Source:
LV Sun
The
expansion of Native Indian casinos in Southern California is set to bring
8,500 slots to the Palm Springs area in the Coachella Valley. According
to an article in the Las Vegas Sun every tribe in the area, that is located
around 150 km north west of San Diego has announced plans to develop casino
facilities. Under the terms the terms of Proposition 1A each tribe being
allowed up to 2,000 machines.
Southern
California's desert casinos could get 20 percent of state's slots
1st
August California Source:
AP
The
expansion of Indian Gaming in California is leading to a number of controversies
surrounding tribal membership. The Associated Press have a story on the
Table Mountain Rancheria and the efforts by some to regain their status
after being away from the reservation for 32 years.
19th
July California Source:
Press release
Following
the $250,000 jackpot at the Barona Casino, IGT put out an interesting release
with statistics on Native American Progressive Systems (NAPS) in operation
throughout the US. There are presently 2,493 slots in 100 Native American
casinos across 13 states hooked up to the system. The operation being monitored
by IGT's subsidiary Sodak
Gaming in South Dakota.
18th
July California Source:
Press release
It took only a few days but the Barona
casino has announced its first jackpot winner on a wide area progressive.
The $250,000 payout is the first such jackpot in California. The Quartermania,
Megabucks and Wheel of Fortune progressives are linked to over 100 Native
Indian casinos in 13 states.
15th
July California Source:
Press release
The
Barona
Casino has announced the opening of their new 16,000 sq ft gaming floor.
Ground breaking features including a "coinless" voucher printing system
for 85% of the slots. High limit traditional banked casino games are now
allowed in California following the passage of Proposition 1A. Previously
there was a participation fee levied on each round of play. The Barona
has added 20 new table games with stakes up to $5,000 on Blackjack.
8th
June California Source: LA Times
California
Common Cause that had released a report stating that Governor Gray Davis
had failed to declare donations from Indian Gaming Tribes has admitted
that it was wrong. The donations made in 1998 and amounting to some $170,000
had been declared and the group is set to issue official apologies.
The Los Angeles Times is proving to be a good source for information on
the rapidly changing gaming landscape in the state. Follow the link for
stories covered by the newspaper over the last six months.
LA
Times News Stories Query "Casinos"
6th
June San Diego Source: Los Angeles
Times
California Common Cause has released a report accusing candidates of failing
to list some $395,000 in political donations from gambling interests between
1995 and 1998. Donations to individuals running for office totalled $15.8
million during the period with Indian Tribes heading the list of contributors.
The Enchanted Sun that was offering day cruises from San Diego to Rosarito
just over the border in Baja California, Mexico has folded. The operation
that lasted just six weeks averaged only 250 customers per day. The venture
was a partnership between the Viejas Indians and Commodore Holdings Ltd
of Florida.
5th
June Chicago/California Source:
Press release
WMS
Gaming Inc., has announced today that it has commenced shipping slots
to casinos in California. During the month of June the company plans to
deliver more than four hundred units to various casinos in California including
orders of 140 units to the Viejas Casino in Alpine and 136 units to the
Spa Casino in Palm Springs.
WMS
Gaming Reports On California Gaming Device Shipments
3rd
June California Source: LA Times/Fox
News
As truck loads of slots manufactured in Reno, Las Vegas & Chicago rumble
over the Sierra Nevada mountains the LA Times has an editorial on the expansion
of Indian gaming in the state and highlights the fact that very few people
are sure exactly how big the industry will become.
Revenues from Tribal gaming are expected to grow to $4 billion over the
next few years. Question marks hang over the number of slots allowed, is
it the 45,206 mentioned in the pacts or considerably more. Also, what is
the role of the State Government in legislation?.
Indian
gaming, now generating some $10 billion in revenue in the US is also the
subject of an article on Fox News focusing on one of the by products of
tribal casinos.
25th
May California Source: Press release
The
Barona
casino, located on the outskirts of San Diego will have a "Coinless" system
installed on 88% of the gaming floor after the completion of the $150 million
expansion programme. The slots will accept coins and bills and on cash
out a printed bar-coded voucher will allow credits to be played on other
machines or to be redeemed for cash at the cashdesk.
24th
May California Source: Press release
Alliance
Gaming Corp. parent of Bally
Gaming and Systems has announced sales of its Slot Data System(SDS®)
to Native Indian properties in California. 300 slots including the Thrillions®
wide area progressive are expected to be delivered over the next 2 months.
The
company already has a Native Indian Thrillions® system working
in Connecticut, Michigan and New Mexico.
24th
May Los Angeles Source: Reuters
A
Safe that is thought to have been the property of gangster and Las Vegas
pioneer Bugsy Siegel will be opened for the first time since 1947 in Los
Angeles today. The location in the Formosa Cafe is believed to be where
Siegel ran a prostitution business. The "cracking" is being performed by
the grandson of the original installer.
30th
April San Francisco Source: SF
Chronicle
Four
San Francisco card clubs have written to the Secretary of the Interior
that Indian tribes are getting preferential treatment under the terms of
Proposition 1A. The argument is that any any laws that classify people
due to race violate the constitution. The clubs see a severe threat to
their future from expanded casino style gaming on Native Indian lands that
will permit banker style table games and slots that are presently forbidden
in the clubs.
Cardrooms
Complain About Indian Casino Rights
28th
April Las Vegas Source: AP
The
latest proposed multi million dollar Native Indian casino project is from
the Twentynine Palms band of Mission Indians in Coachella, California.
The tribe that has just 13 adult members is linking up with Trump
Hotels & Casinos to build a 50 story $60 million gambling resort.
Expansion of the tribes existing Spotlight 29 casino is expected to begin
in the summer.
20th
April Las Vegas/California Source:
Mikohn Press release
The
Barona
casino near San Diego has signed up to receive over $1 million in gaming
equipment, electronics and displays from Mikohn.
The casino that already has 1,000 video slots will undoubtedly be expanding
to the maximum 2,000 allowed under Proposition 1A. Mikohn also announced
that they now have a grand total of 150 supplier licences of which 32 come
from separate US states and 99 Indian gaming tribes.
18th
April Valley Center, California
Source: Press release
The
latest multi-million dollar casino project announced in California since
the passing of Prop 1A is from the 300 strong San Pasqual Band of Mission
Indians in San Diego County. The tribe is establishing a partnership with
the casino operating Tunica-Biloxi tribe of Louisiana. The plan is for
a $180 million gaming & resort complex on tribal owned land near Escondido
that will create in the region of 1,600 jobs.
9th
April San Diego Source:
LA Times/AP
The
56 strong Jamul Indian Tribe is planning a $100 million casino 20 miles
east of San Diego. The proposed 2000 slot hotel will be built on 5 of the
tribes six acres of land and has aroused opposition from local residents.
LA
Times "Casino" keyword search
6th
April California
The expansion of
casino gaming in the state continues to attract the attention of the worlds
press.
Gambling
Ship to Sail With Slot Access Barred - Los Angeles Times 1st April.
The
Enchanted Sun setting sail from San Diego to Rosarito Beach, Mexico on
18th April.
Lawmakers
in California allow one-armed bandits a freer hand - FT.com 4th April.
A
non too complimentary article detailing some of the planned expansions.
California
tribe lowers gas prices as 'thank you'
The Morongo Band of Mission
Indians lowered petrol prices to $1 and caused long queues at the pumps
20th
March Palm Springs Source: Press
release
The
2nd Annual California Indian Gaming Summit has opened in Palm Springs.
Organized by Gem
Communications publishers of Indian Gaming Business it is the first
trade show since the passing of Proposition 1A. Attendees including Tribal
leaders, management companies, suppliers and manufacturers. Previous to
the adoption of the constitutional amendment, gaming in "Nevada" style
casinos was not permitted.
18th
March California Source: AP/ABC
News
Residents in Placer County North East of Sacremento are opposing the building
of a new casino by the 220 strong United Auburn Indian community. The $100
million, 200,000 square foot property would be expected to draw around
8,000 customers per day and have $80 million in annual revenues. Voters
in the county voted 56% against Propostion 1A.
11th
March California
Checking
up on the vote for Prop 1A at the official "Yes on 1A" website the almost
final count with 99.9 precincts reporting was as follows; Total votes cast
6,654,758. Yes: 64.6% (4,295,280), No: 35.4% (2,359,478).
8th
March California
Proposition 1A passes in California. Indian Casinos
set for major expansion.
Californian's
on Super Tuesday voted 65 to 35 in favour of passing Proposition
1A, an amendment to the state constitution permitting an expansion of casinos
on Native Indian land. The bill will allow Blackjack, Baccarat and sports
books as well as a doubling of the number and style of slots to around
43,000. Proposition 5, originally passed in 1998, would have allowed unconstrained
gaming on Indian land but was overturned by the California Supreme Court
as breaking state laws that forbid Nevada style casinos.
Presently Indian casinos are thought to produce revenues of $1 billion
but that is expected to rise over the next few years to $4.7 billion, almost
matching the present revenues of the Las Vegas Strip. Indian tribes, according
to statistics currently employ some 15,000 people (90% non tribal), a number
that looks sure to increase substantially.
Combined the tribes are thought to have spent $7 million promoting the
passage of 1A. The anti 1A campaign centring on the argument that casino
gambling will bring with it divisive problems and also environmental concerns
over water usage and new development in rural areas.
Update: With 99% of
the districts reporting the vote was 64.6% to 35.4% on 6,654,758 votes
cast. Source: http://www.yeson1a.org/
1st
March Los Angeles Source: Press
release
The
potential impact on Nevada casinos by the opening up of casinos in California
has been detailed in a new report - California's Indian Casinos: An Emerging
Market Analysis.
At the moment 39 of the 107 federally recognized Californian tribes operate
casinos. Revenues are forecasted to grow from $1 billion per annum today
to $4.7 billion in 2004.
21st
February California
On
March 7th California voters go to the polls to vote on among other things
Proposition 1A. This is the amendment to the state constitution to allow
casinos on Native Indian Reservations.
The original Proposition 5, after being approved by voters was overturned
by the California Supreme Court 6 to 1 on the grounds that the state constitution
outlawed "Nevada style" casinos. Should a yes vote result, experts believe
that California will eventually become the gambling capital of the US.
This scenario obviously is a controversial one both for the citizens of
the state and the long established gaming operations in Nevada.
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