Interior Department Brings California Indian Tribes Expansion Closer

Another step was taken on Friday in what appears to be a long legal battle between four Indian tribes in California and their opponents. The U.S. Interior Department approved their agreement with the Governor.

By the end of the upcoming week, the deals that are in place could take effect. The deals are all multi billion dollar deals.

Even though the deals received the approval of the Interior Department, there still could be a legal battle that could end up in the overturn of the deals.

Voters will still vote on the agreement in February after two rival Indian tribes, two horse tracks, and a casino workers union collected three million signatures to have four separate referendums put on the ballot.

The deal that is in place could add 17,000 slot machines to the facilities at the four Indian tribe casinos, as opposed to the 8,000 those same four casinos currently have.

Florida is headed for a similar legal battle as the one in California after their Governor, Charlie Crist, signed a compact with the Seminole Indians for expanded gambling.

The ruling Friday could be a ground breaker in these sorts of deals and could be a precedent that is followed in Florida.

December 2, 2007
Posted By Tom Jones
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
Submit News!