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California Tribes Bid Against Each Other

CALIFORNIA – As reported by the California Press-Democrat: "Cloverdale's twin casino proposals pit two tribal groups bidding for rich shares of Sonoma County's lucrative gambling market against each other.

"…Right now it's a crap shoot, because both face regulatory hurdles that could take years to cross and may cost millions of dollars.

"But a leading expert on gaming law said the winner is likely to be the tribe that can prove the closest ancestral ties to the land to ward off charges of 'reservation shopping.'

"In that case, the 400-member Cloverdale Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians could beat out rivals composed of an offshoot Cloverdale family and tribal partners from Humboldt and Mendocino counties, said Whittier Law School professor I. Nelson Rose.

"…It will be a point of debate as the Mendocino County Hopland Band of Pomos and casino developers from Blue Lake Rancheria of Humboldt County pursue plans for a 1,700-slot machine casino on land owned by the Santana family of Cloverdale.

"Jana Ganion, a spokeswoman for the Hopland-Blue Lake project, said Hopland Pomos share ancient family links to the Cloverdale Pomo tribe about 15 miles away. She said the group has a right to use the Hopland tribe's existing state gaming compact to open a casino in Cloverdale.

"…The dueling casino plans are as complicated as they are contentious.

"…To some extent, both groups will have to negotiate with local authorities for water and sewer services and to ensure adequate levels of police and fire protection…"

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