California Governor Gavin Newsom announced Tuesday that he signed tribal-state gaming compacts with six of the states federally recognized Indian tribes, among them, the Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians. Signed August 10, 2021, after several years of negotiations, the agreement with the Tribe whose rancheria is located in Madera County, will enable the expansion of its Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino in Coarsegold and protect employees and casino patrons, according to a source.
The 25-year compact (pdf) authorizes Class III gaming with up to 3,500 gaming devices at up to two gaming facilities on the Tribe’s land held in trust. However, if the tribe operates more than 3,000 gaming devices in a year, it will pay $500,000 to the Special Distribution Fund in addition to its pro rata share obligation. The compact will go into effect once it is ratified by the state legislature and approved by the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI).
Arduous process:
Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians Chairwoman Claudia Gonzales explained…
Tribal-state compacts:
The five other California tribes with new 25-year gaming compacts signed by Governor Newsom (pictured) on August 10, 2021, are:
- Cahto Indian Tribe of the Laytonville Rancheria, owner-operator of Red Fox Casino in Laytonville. The Tribe’s compact authorizes Class III gaming with up to 1,200 gaming devices at up to three gambling facilities on the Tribe’s property.
- Sherwood Valley Rancheria of Pomo Indians, owner/operator of Sherwood Valley Casino in Willits (same authorizations as above)
- Table Mountain Rancheria, owner/operator of Table Mountain Casino in Friant. The Tribe’s compact authorizes Class III gaming with up to 3,000 gaming devices at up to three gambling facilities on the Tribe’s property.
- Ewiiaapaayp Band of Kumeyaay Indians in Alpine. Compact authorizes Class III gaming with up to 1,200 gaming devices at up two gambling facilities on the Tribe’s property.
- Resighini Rancheria in Klamath. Same authorizations as directly above.
Each of the six tribes is federally recognized and as such qualify to own a casino under the U.S. Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) enacted in 1988. Under the Act, Class II gaming can be authorized on tribal land sans state approval.
The tribal gaming compacts with the state of California specify quarterly payments to the state based on a percentage of gambling revenues. The payments include those that go into a Revenue Sharing Trust Fund, which is distributed to both limited-gaming tribes and non-gaming tribes throughout the western U.S. state.