Increase in Number of Slot Machines Wanted

Talk about fighting for the underdog? That is just what State Senator Jim Battin is doing. A Republican from Palm Desert, Battin says that the smaller tribes are being trampled by the big tribes and are not getting their fair share of slot machines in the state.

Back in 1999 the state of California and 61 American Indian tribes agreed that each of the tribes had the legal right to operate up to 2,000 slot machines. However, there is a cap on the number of slot machines that are allowed to function in the state, so in essence that amount is not really true.

Battin is trying to fight for the smaller tribes to get them their slot machines and to set right a wrong that was committed years ago. The smaller tribes that did not get their slot machines right away have not been able to get them so Battin is trying to pass a bill that would get them their allotted slot machines.

Those tribes that have not gotten all of their slot machines have been offered bingo machines, but as they are not as attractive to customers the casinos that end up with them are at a financial disadvantage to those that got all of their slot machines. The plus is that they are allowed as many bingo machines as they want, which makes it a draw for some of the tribes, but the revenue just isn’t there.

Battin is hoping that the state will see it from the tribes’ point of view and see fit to raise the cap so that those tribes that have been promised 2,000 slot machines will actually get them.

 

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