UKASINO GAMBLING PALACE

Casinos Cautioned by Governor Schwarzenegger in California

Two casinos run by Indian tribes were cautioned by the state against the operation of more than a thousand gaming machines.

The Morongo Band of Mission Indians and Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians were in hot seats as Gov. Schwarzenegger threatens to shut down the casinos run by these Indian tribes.

According to Morongo Band of Mission Indians and Pechanga Band of Luiseno, they are abiding by the state law by running two thousand gambling machines but the state is not convinced. The California Gambling Control and the Governor office says that the Morongo uses two thousand forty five gaming machines and this includes five multi station roulette devices that allows fifty people to play. While on the other hand, the Penchanga operates 2,139 machines that include fifteen multi station roulette and a blackjack station that can hold one hundred fifty players.

The operation of more than two thousand gaming machines is illegal under the state and tribal agreement.

Earlier, in the spirit of mutual respect, Gov. Schwarzenegger held a meeting with the leaders of both Indian tribes but now the legal affairs department had sent a letter accusing both tribes of operating gambling machines that is beyond the allowable number.

According to the letter, the governor will stop the operations if until in Aug. 8, both of these casinos will still continue operating more than 2000 gaming machines.

Meanwhile, both tribes deny the allegations that they are running more than two thousand gaming machines. Both of Indian casinos, The Pechanga Resort run by the Pechanga and Casino Morongo Casino, Resort and Spa run by Morongo Band of Mission says that they are only running two thousand machines. These casinos offer electronic blackjack, slots and roulette.

According to these casinos, the multi station that allows fifty people to play blackjack table or the roulette all at the same time is just counted as one machine while the state counts each seat as a gaming machine.

The technical distinction is very important as the casinos face closure because of two different definitions by the state and the casinos.

The casino said that they are using the definition permitted long before by a gambling official but the governor office is not agreeing on its terms.

Two Northern California Tribes and two San Diego County tribes also received the same letter from the governor office but both tribes also rejected the same proposal.

Morongo counsels believed that the state gaming fund for local governments will surely be affected if the decision of the governor will prevail but the spokesperson of the governor said that the governor believes that it is the rightful duty of the state to enforce agreements.

After a negotiation last May, Morongo said that they are surprised to receive the letter and says that they cannot respond yet to the letter while Pechanga is unreachable for comment.