The state Senate approves gambling compacts

The state Senate on Thursday approved amended gaming compacts for the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians and four other gaming tribes, the largest expansion of tribal gambling so far in the state.The agreements must now go before the Assembly. If passed, the San Manuels would be authorized to put up to 5,500 new gaming machines in their casino near San Bernardino and Highland. “It’s one-half of a total package. We still have the Assembly to go,” said tribal spokesman Jacob Coin, adding that the amended compacts, if ratified, would more than double the tribe’s revenue-sharing contributions to the state. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s 2007-2008 budget anticipates $506million in general fund revenue from the amended gaming compacts. The revenue, however, is dependent on the Legislature’s ratification. The governor is relying on tribes installing thousands of slot machines within months to begin paying the state and to close its chronic budget deficit. The state’s nonpartisan budget analyst has said such expectations are unrealistic and that the state may not see significant revenue from the compacts for years. It was unclear Thursday just how many new slot machines the San Manuels plan to put in their casino if the compacts are ratified. Coin said the 450,000-square-foot San Manuel Indian Bingo and Casino does not have room for 5,500 new machines. Vince Duro, the tribe’s vice chairman, testified at a state Senate hearing last week that there are no current plans to expand casino construction. “I can’t tell you how many more machines we can take on without new construction, but I think we can handle a number that can give some good revenue contributions to the state general fund,” Coin said. The compacts approved Thursday would also allow the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians to more than double its number of slot machines, from 2,000 to 5,000, at its two casinos in Palm Springs and Rancho Mirage. The Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation in San Diego County would be allowed to increase the number of machines it operates from 2,000 to 5,000. The Morongo Band of Mission Indians in Cabazon and the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians in Temecula would each be allowed to put up to 5,500 slot machines in their casinos as well, said Sabrina Lockhart, a spokeswoman for Schwarzenegger. The state Senate also approved a much smaller gambling agreement with the Yurok Indians, a 5,000-member tribe that is the state’s largest but also among its poorest. The Yuroks would be allowed to install up to 99 slot machines at their reservation near Klamath in Del Norte County. For representatives of tribes pushing to build casinos in Barstow, Thursday’s news made them optimistic that the state Senate Organizational Committee would schedule informational hearings for them. Schwarzenegger approved gaming compacts for the Big Lagoon Rancheria and Los Coyotes Band of Cahuilla and Cupeno Indians in September 2005, but the compacts must be ratified in order for them to proceed with building the casinos, estimated to bring 3,700 new jobs to Barstow and generate $6million a year in city revenue. “We think the actions today to move on reservation compacts over to the Assembly is a good sign,” said Tom Shields, spokesman for Los Coyotes. “We look forward to the opportunity for an information hearing in the Senate with a vote to send us over to the Assembly as well.” The Associated Press contributed to this report.