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Barona Tribe to Sign Compact

SAN DIEGO -- The Barona Group of Capitan Grande Band of Mission Indians, which owns and operates the Barona Casino (located northeast of San Diego), has voted to sign a tribal-state gaming compact with the State of California.

The Barona compact is similar to the Pala compact, which was signed earlier this year between the Pala Band of Mission Indians and the State of California, but with some important differences. The most significant modifications in the Barona compact, which can be renegotiated in March of 1999 with the newly elected California Governor, include:

• The grandfathering of the current number of gaming machines.
• The right to re-negotiation in March 1999.
• Use of current Video Lottery Terminals until substitute machines are available.
• Assistance by the State in obtaining the maximum amount of machines.
• No extension of State jurisdiction beyond gaming facilities.
• If the statewide gaming initiative passes, it will supersede the Barona Compact.

"During the entire two months at the negotiating table, we feel both sides successfully conducted good faith negotiations to reach a fair and equitable Barona compact," said Clifford LaChappa, chairman of the Barona Tribe. "We believe an agreement has been reached that will serve to secure the economic development and self-sufficiency we have worked so hard to build for our Tribe and also benefit the San Diego region economically."

LaChappa added that the Barona compact will protect tribal sovereignty, the gaming enterprise, and will enable Barona to continue to contribute to the San Diego economy through job creation, payroll taxes and charitable contributions.

Successfully negotiated over the past 60 days, the Barona Compact was reached after many hours of negotiating between the Barona Tribal Council and the Governor's negotiating team. As a result, the Barona Tribe will be able to continue its gaming operations without interruption.

Now that the Barona Tribe and Governor Wilson's negotiating team have approved the Barona Compact, Governor Wilson and Chairman LaChappa are expected to officially sign the document within the next few weeks. The compact will be sent to the U.S. Secretary of the Interior for approval.

Inland Entertainment Corp. anticipates that the signing of the compact will not have a significant effect on the operations of the Barona Casino or Inland Entertainment revenues related to their consulting agreement with the Barona Tribe.

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