Brad S. Jolly & Associates Indian Gaming News

San Jose council votes to put gambling expansion on the ballot

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:15:48 GMT

(CALIFORNIA) -- With San Jose's budget deeply in the red, the City Council voted Tuesday to put a measure on the June ballot that would allow a dramatic expansion of gambling at the city's card clubs, along with higher card-room taxes that could generate $5 million a year.

From: PECHANGA.net

Wappo Indians Push For Federal Recognition

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:15:48 GMT

(CALIFORNIA) -- The Wappo Indians of the Alexander Valley are hoping a court hearing now set for April will eventually lead to renewed federal status as a legal tribe. The Mishewal Tribe lost federal status in 1959 when the government privatized many small reservations.

From: PECHANGA.net

Pechanga chefs take charge of culinary team

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:15:48 GMT

(CALIFORNIA) -- Chef Kwok Kuen “Raymond” Tse has been named head chef of Asian cuisine and Chef Jason McClain is the new assistant executive chef.

From: PECHANGA.net

Temecula council approves deal for payments from Pechanga

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:15:48 GMT

(CALIFORNIA) -- The Temecula City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved an agreement with the Pechanga Band of Luise�o Indians that guarantees the city at least $52 million over 21 years to handle the effect the tribe's hotel and casino have on traffic and public services.

From: PECHANGA.net

Schumer: Let Congress settle land into trust

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:15:48 GMT

(NEW YORK) -- It should be Congress, not the Obama administration, that takes the lead in responding to a 2009 Supreme Court ruling governing trust land for Indian tribes, U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., said Monday.

From: PECHANGA.net

Seneca Gaming picks new N.F. GM

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:15:48 GMT

(NEW YORK) -- Seneca Gaming Corp. has tapped a longtime casino industry veteran to serve as general manager for the Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel.

From: PECHANGA.net

Man wins largest prize ever awarded at casino

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:15:48 GMT

(NEW YORK) -- A Bemus Point man Sunday won the largest megajackpot ever awarded at Seneca Allegany Casino.

From: PECHANGA.net

Local Charity Bingo Halls May Reopen

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:15:48 GMT

(ALABAMA) -- Some local charity bingo halls are back open for business following a Monday ruling in Jefferson County Circuit Court.

From: PECHANGA.net

Board discusses Nottawaseppi Huron gaming revenues

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:20:05 GMT

A board that will determine how to share gaming revenues from the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi Indians of Michigan met on Monday. The tribe's Class III gaming compact calls for 2 percent of slot machine profits from FireKeepers Casino to be shared with the community. The first payment was $1.93 million, double what was expected. According to the compact, the money must be distributed in three tiers. First, local governments should be reimbursed for costs directly attributed to the casino. Second, local governments or schools that can't collect taxes due to the casino's trust status will receive money...

From: indianz.com

Comment period for NIGC appointment closes March 29

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:20:05 GMT

The National Indian Gaming Commission could soon have a third member. President Barack Obama named Daniel J. Little, a member of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation of Connecticut, to serve on the commission. The comment period on the appointment closes on March 29. George Skibine, a member of the Osage Nation of Oklahoma, serves as acting chair of the NIGC. Steffani A. Cochran, a member of the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma, serves as permanent vice chair. Skibine started his post on October 2. He has said he will stay for seven months, so his appointment is due to expire in early May. Obama has yet to name a permanent chair for the NIGC, which oversees the $27 billion Indian gaming industry.

From: indianz.com

Seneca Nation chooses manager of Niagara Falls casino

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:20:05 GMT

The Seneca Nation named a new general manager of its off-reservation casino in Niagara Falls, New York. Neil Walkoff is a gaming industry veteran with over 16 years of experience. He has worked for casinos in Las Vegas, Louisiana, Tennessee, Missouri, Alabama and Indiana. The Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel opened in 2003. It is one of two off-reservation facilities operated by the tribe. The land for both facilities was acquired in connection with a land claim settlement. The Senecas were the first tribe in the history of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act to gain approval for a gaming facility under such circumstances.

From: indianz.com

Saskatchewan First Nations collect liquor tax at casinos

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:20:05 GMT

Five First Nations have signed agreements with Saskatchewan to collect a liquor tax at their casinos. The tribes are collecting the same 10 percent tax as the province's. The revenues will be used to fund local projects. A pilot project with the Whitecap Dakota First Nation, owner of the Dakota Dunes Casino, resulted in $15,000 in revenues in one month.

From: indianz.com

County cites gaming fears in Mishewal Wappo lawsuit

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:20:05 GMT

Officials in Sonoma County, California, say the Mishewal Wappo Tribe will try to build a casino if it wins federal recognition. The county wants to intervene in the tribe's lawsuit against the Interior Department. The tribe says its interests will be affected by a decision or a settlement in the case. The tribe says its first goal is to regain recognition. "We are trying to get back what was taken from us," Chairman Scott Gabaldon told The Santa Rosa Press-Democrat. A hearing in the case is scheduled for April 19.

From: indianz.com

Seminole Tribe confirms agreement with First Nations

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:20:05 GMT

The Seminole Tribe of Florida confirmed it signed a memorandum of understanding to develop a Hard Rock with a group of 10 First Nations in Saskatchewan. In a statement, the tribal council said it wasn't involved with the Independent First Nations of Saskatchewan. But there was apparently some "confusion" over the deal, said the president of the Seminole Tribe of Florida Inc., the tribe's economic development arm. The $1.2 billion project in downtown Regina includes a stadium for the Roughriders, a hotel and a casino. The complex is designed by Douglas Cardinal, a Native architect. The deal hinges on the sale of province-owned casinos in Regina and Moose Jaw. The tribes want the province to contribution a portion of the sale towards construction of their facility.

From: indianz.com

Gamblers sue Seminole Tribe over 'illegal' card games

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:20:05 GMT

Important Update: The website linked below has removed the story from its server. Also, the tribe clarified in an email that it has not been named a defendant in the lawsuit. Two gamblers say the Seminole Tribe of Florida owes them money for "illegal" card games that were invalidated by the state courts. The gamblers are trying to recover the losses they incurred while playing the games. State law allows people to sue anyone connected to "illegal" gaming activities, according to ABC Action News. The tribe signed a Class III compact that authorized slot machines and card games at its casinos. The Bureau of Indian Affairs approved the compact but the Florida Supreme Court subsequently said Gov. Charlie Crist (R) overstepped his authority ...

From: indianz.com

Twenty-Nine Palms woman loses per capita tax lawsuit

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:20:05 GMT

A member of the Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians must pay state income taxes on her tribe's per capita payments because she lived on another reservation, the California Court of Appeals ruled. Angelina Mike received $345,000 in revenues from the Spotlight 29 Casino. But she was living on the Agua Caliente Reservation at the time so the court for the 4th district said she owes taxes. Mike's attorney is planning an appeal and believes the case will go to the U.S. Supreme Court. Turtle Talk has posted documents from the case, Mike v. Franchise Tax Board. Separately, the tribe filed its own lawsuit against the state.

From: indianz.com

West Valley to get massive Las Vegas-style casino?

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 05:08:08 GMT

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) – A plan by a southern Arizona Indian tribe to build a casino and resort in the Phoenix area has divided tribes, split cities and is now sparking a debate at the Legislature about tribal sovereignty.

From: Indian Country Today

Obama nominates Pequot man to fill NIGC seat

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 05:08:08 GMT

WASHINGTON – For the first time in more than two years, the National Indian Gaming Commission is about to be fully staffed.

From: Indian Country Today

Internet gambling: Threat or opportunity?

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 05:08:08 GMT

The likelihood Internet poker will soon be legal in the United States is igniting a fear among some tribal leaders that online gambling will impact revenue from tribal government casinos. Internet gambling proponents contend the fears are unwarranted as online gamblers represent a segment of the public that is not patronizing casinos.

From: Indian Country Today

Conn. risks $400m annual loss from Indian gaming revenues

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 05:08:08 GMT

HARTFORD, Conn. – A legislative hearing on the state’s proposal to add electronic Keno to its stable of games of chance in an effort to close part of the state budget’s $1.3 billion revenue gap had a moment of high irony when the head of the gaming agency testified in favor of the plan.

From: Indian Country Today

Seneca Allegany awards $1.1 million Megajackpot

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 05:08:08 GMT

SALAMANCA, N.Y. – Nang Thai won a $1.1 million Wheel of Fortune Special Edition MegaJackpot at Seneca Allegany Casino March 7.

From: Indian Country Today

Tribe to distribute nearly $2 million

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 05:08:08 GMT

ATHENS TOWNSHIP, Mich. – The Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi (nhbpi.com/) recently announced its first payment to the FireKeepers Local Revenue Sharing Board would be almost $2 million. A check was presented Feb. 12.

From: Indian Country Today

VeeQuiva awards second Megajackpot this year

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 05:08:08 GMT

LAVEEN, Ariz. – Adeline Blackwell won $112,915 when she hit a Wheel of Fortune quarters MegaJackpot at Gila River’s Casino VeeQuiva Jan. 23.

From: Indian Country Today

Hotel shuttle drivers help evacuate elderly

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 05:08:08 GMT

CAMP VERDE, Ariz. – Cliff Castle Casino Hotel shuttle drivers are used to helping hotel and casino guests get to their destinations, but they found themselves helping evacuate elderly members of the surrounding community in Camp Verde Jan. 21 and 22 as flood waters swept through the area.

From: Indian Country Today