Nine tribes in California notified the state government Monday of their opposition to proposed intrastate Internet poker, reports the Desert Sun newspaper, which has been monioring developments on the issue.
The tribes sent a joint letter to members of the Senate Governmental Organisation committee a day before its informational hearing on the proposed online poker initiative from card club interests and tribes that include the Morongo Band of Mission Indians.
“We are writing to clearly state our strong opposition,’’ the notification says, rejecting arguments that legalised intrastate poker would financially benefit the state. Opposition tribes called it an “ill-conceived” proposal with fundamental flaws, among them the potential risk to exclusivity provisions for tribes that negotiated new or revised Indian gaming compacts with the state of California.
Signing the letter were tribal chairs of the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians near Temecula; Jackson Rancheria of MiWuk Indians; Lytton Band of Pomo Indians; Pala Band of Mission Indians; Pauma Band of Luiseño Indians; Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians; United Auburn Indian Community; and the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians.
The Senate Governmental Organization Committee begins an informal hearing today [Tuesday], and many members of land-based casinos will be present. Among those that are scheduled to be heard from are ISP’s, tribal leaders, and problem gambling representatives.