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Gaming Tribes Ready to Deal with Schwarzenegger

SACRAMENTO, California – As reported by the (California) Daily Bulletin: "Despite spending millions of dollars to defeat Gov.-elect Arnold Schwarzenegger's recall candidacy, some of California's wealthiest Indian tribes are actively pursuing him and his plan to renegotiate their gaming compacts.

"American Indians were defiant during the campaign when Schwarzenegger promised to make them `pay their fair share' of infrastructure, public safety and other government-incurred costs from attendance at their Las Vegas-style casinos. They argued such measures would violate tribal sovereignty.

"…According to Indian gaming officials, the desire to renegotiate involves financial self-interest. If Schwarzenegger allows tribes to expand gambling operations in a way that increases overall revenue, they will reciprocate with more money for the state.

"One necessary concession, they say, is that Schwarzenegger abandon the notion that California tribes should pay Sacramento 25 percent of their gaming revenues, a number the governor-elect based on the agreement Connecticut tribes have with Hartford.

"…About 10 of those tribes could benefit from increasing the number of slot machines Sacramento allows them to put in their casinos. Up to 10 more might be in the market for off-reservation casinos -- two things the Davis administration has not supported.

"…Schwarzenegger said in September he supports dropping many state-imposed restrictions on Indian gaming operations. The governor-elect said he wants California's tribes to make more money by wooing gamblers who normally play in Nevada, and even invited some tribal officials to his swearing-in ceremony…"

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