Over in California, the state’s governor seems to be at odds with the latest expansion efforts of the native tribes when it comes to gaming. Per a recent report, California’s Democratic governor, Gavin Newsom, has asked the Department of the Interior to oppose the construction of two tribal casinos on claims they would extend the restored lands exception beyond legal limits. More specifically, Newsom sent a letter to the US DOI’s secretary Deb Haaland, asking her to nix two native casino projects in Solano and Sonoma counties. Newsom argued the new construction proposed by the Koi Nation of Northern California and the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians at locations that do not belong to their aboriginal homelands. He also noted this would “stretch the ‘restored lands’ exception beyond its legal limits.”
For this report, SBS will be going over what to look for from the latest gaming news coming from the Golden State along with more notes and info about California wagering.
Noted in the same article, by going forward with the proposals, the Department of the Interior would also be sidestepping the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act and disregarding concerns expressed by tribal governments and other local communities. In the letter addressing assistant secretary Bryan Newland, the Governor’s Office accused the DOI of failing to consider some reasonable alternatives as possible locations within their Lake County homelands.
One of the supporters of Governor Newsom’s initiative is The Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, a federally recognized Indian tribe that comprises Coast Miwok and Southern Pomo Indians. The tribe, the article notes, has expressed its appreciation for the Governor’s desire to protect “tribal sovereignty against the Interior’s unexplained rush to move these projects forward while ignoring the concerns of the local tribe,” as explained by chairman Greg Sarris. The chairman also spoke about their repeated attempts to explain to the Interior “that these projects will have devastating impacts on the rights and cultural resources of our Tribe.” This also includes “others whose ancestral territory these prospective projects are located.”
The chairman added that Haalnad will ultimately carry responsibility for the decisions and that she “needs to ensure that Interior is working to protect the interest of all tribes.” The Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation which is the operator of Cache Creek Casino, along with the Kletsel Dehe Wintun Nation, and several local government officials have asked the DOI to say no to the Scotts Valley casino project during a press conference in West Sacramento. Two years ago, the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors also unanimously voted against the tribal casino resort pitched by the Koi Nation.
According to the same article, opposing voices also came from other regional tribes who accused the two entities behind the casino projects of “reservation shopping.” The term, deemed offensive by some Native Americans, the report notes, would suggest the two tribes have looked for land far from their original reservations to boost future casino profits to the maximum. The Scotts Valley Band’s proposed $700 million casino resort has been pending approval from the DOI near Vallejo since 2016. If given the green light, the respective land would be earmarked for the casinos to be taken into trust, enabling the federal government to partially remove land from the state’s jurisdiction and turn it into sovereign land. The latter is a tribal gaming prerequisite.
Similarly, the Koi Nation’s projected $600 million casino resort near Windsor first came to light toward the end of 2021 and has been awaiting approval ever since. The DOI, the report notes, may consider the governor’s stance, but without giving him a final in the decision involving whether the tribes should claim ancestral ties to the land or not. While both tribes claim they do carry historical ties to the land, other tribes in the area say the opposite. Earlier in the month, the Tribal Nations Access to Justice Act reached the assembly floor after a 14-0 vote, bringing Californian tribes one step closer to suing cardrooms over their offer of blackjack and poker games. This should, per the report, lead to the exclusive rights of the tribes and gaming establishments.
Of course, these latest developments are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to gaming updates in the Golden State between the state government and the native tribes. Regular readers of SBS are no doubt aware of the ups and downs of gaming in the state and how one should have a watchful eye on these affairs.
After you are all squared away in relation to the latest gaming news and updates coming from the Golden State, make sure to check out the wide array of information over at SBS. Of course, for even more insights on the topic covered here, check out the California sports betting guide which goes over all the latest happenings in California as it relates to gaming. Conversely, if you are interested in staying on top of the action while you are on the go, make sure to bookmark the best betting apps rundown. On this page, you can learn more about the nuances of mobile betting and how you can stay on top of the action. Finally, for those looking for perhaps some higher-stakes wagering, look no further than the VIP sports betting sites breakdown which goes over the perks of VIP betting and if it’s right for you.
About the Author
As a devout aficionado of sports, Chris Boline has carved a career within the athletic realm. A skilled scribe, he boasts a decade-long portfolio that encompasses coverage of the NBA G League, the Los Angeles Chargers, football and basketball across the country. Beyond his professional pursuits, Chris is deeply invested in his community and dedicates his leisure hours to serving on boards, collaborating with community organizations, and cherishing the company of loved ones. CURRENTLY Business Development and freelance sports writing RESIDES IN Reno, NV EDUCATION University of Nevada BS and MBA EXPERTISE -Sports writing proficiency in: NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and some motor sports -Topical news -Promotional and marketing ideas/updates -Business development Summary Chris Boline serves in a business development sales capacity as his day job. He has previously held sales/marketing positions with The Applied Companies (TAC), KTVN 2 News and the NBA G League’s Reno Bighorns, affiliate of the Sacramento Kings. He is a Reno native and is a member of various community boards including the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET and the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA). Chris graduated from the University of Nevada in 2015 with a bachelors in management and economics and also earned his MBA from Nevada in 2023. More about Chris: Past president of the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA) 2022-23 Two-time honoree for University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year (Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, 2017 & COBAA, 2021) 2021 NCET award for Professional Services Organization of the Year with TAC Northern Nevada Human Resources Association 2020 Best Places to Work-Northern Nevada, Second Place with TAC 2016-17 Reno Bighorns MVP from the Sacramento Kings The Nevada Sagebrush editor-in-chief 2013-15 Associated Collegiate Press 2015 Four-year Non-daily Newspaper Pacemaker honoree University of Nevada, Reno College of Business Dean's List honoree (5x) from 2011-2015 Nevada Press Association award for Best Sports Column – Community in 2015 Education
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