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San Manuel Indian Tribe Hopes To Increase Slot Machine Numbers In California

January 22, 2007, the San Manuel Indian Tribe in California has taken an important step in drafting a new agreement between them and the state that will give them permission to operate thousands of slot machines in their casinos. The executive director of the San Manuel Indian Tribe, Jerry Paresa, said that they have yet seen a lawmaker that will sponsor the bill to make a new gaming compact.

But he said that he is hopeful that things will work out because both sides, especially the state, will earn a significant amount of revenue from the casinos. According to the Department of Finance's study of the budget that have been proposed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, a changed gaming compact between the state and the tribe will allow five California tribes to enlarge their casino operation and in turn, will put about $506 million in the budget of California for the fiscal years of 2007 and 2008. It has to be approved this year so that the state could receive the money immediately.

The San Manuel Indian Tribe manages the San Manuel Indian Bingo and Casino on their reservation located in San Bernardino. This Friday will be the last day for the proposals to be given to the Office of Legislative Counsel. The revised deal, which was released in August 2006, would require the tribes in the area to pay the state a fixed rate of $45 million annually.

The compact will also allow a maximum number of 7,500 slots and California's share of the earnings of San Manuel would increase when the added number of slots is approved. The finance department has estimated that if the 7,500 slot machines are installed in the casino of the San Manuel tribe, the tribe's payment to California could reach about $7.2 Billion by the year 2030.

Last August 2006, the compacts for the San Manuel Indian Tribe and other gaming tribes failed to pass the legislation meetings. Assemblyman George Plescia, a Republican from San Diego, sponsored the bill. It also included a new compact allotted for the Morongo Tribe, which operates their casino in Cabazon. The employees at the San Manuel Casino are organized under the Communications Workers of America.

 

Wednesday, 10 March 2010
Caroline Mitchell