Cachil Dehe Tribe Sues California Control Commission Over Slot Machine Issue

The question 'can one slot machine actually be several machines?' is reviving a long sleeping court match between the state's gambling regulators and the tribe that operates and manages the Colusa Casino Resort.

On June 8, 2007 The Cachil Dehe Band of Wintun Indians filed a lawsuit against the California Gambling Control Commission at the U.S. District Court in Sacramento.

The Cachil Dehe Tribe seeks to have multiple screen gaming terminals recognized as single and not multiple screens, a move that could improve profits at the casino despite a state quota on the number of slot machines that casinos could offer there.

The multiple player electronic slot machines, are all handled by one random number generator (RNG) machine. The RNG machine is the device that is responsible for the outcome of the game. All players bet on the same result rather than on several ones.

Nonetheless, the Gambling Control Commission aims to classify each screen as a separate machine. That would make the multiplayer game illegal by allowing the Colusa Casino over their limit in slot machines. The tribe is complaining that it would affect their gaming compact with the state.

Wednesday, 27 June 2007
Marissa Patterson