CNIGA Develops Guidelines for Compacts

As reported by the San Diego Union-Tribune: "California's oldest and largest tribal alliance is quietly pondering a controversial move that could give the organization a prominent role in shaping the future of Indian gambling in the state.

"The California Nations Indian Gaming Association has been developing guidelines for gambling agreements negotiated between individual tribes and the state.

"Until now, the powerful organization has stayed out of that debate, maintaining that the agreements, or compacts, are the sole province of each tribe at the negotiating table.

"But, with an approved set of criteria, the organization would be able to weigh in during the Legislature's consideration of new compacts. Five agreements, including two for separate San Diego and Imperial county tribes, have been stalled in the Legislature for months.

"…The association includes a combustible mix of gaming tribes and remote bands still hoping to get into the industry. It has long been considered the state's dominant tribal lobby and one of the most prominent in the country, but it has been in decline. At least a dozen big gaming tribes – including Barona, Pala, Rincon and Viejas from San Diego County – have left the organization since late 2002.

"The push within the association to abandon its neutrality on compacts has been driven by established gaming tribes who fear that the Schwarzenegger administration is piecing together a tough template for the compacts. Administration officials privately have confirmed as much…"