CA Upset with Bingo Machines

The California Gambling Control Commission staff and federal regulators are taking issue with bingo machines that the Sycuan Indian Band is in possession of. They say that by having the bingo machines, the tribe is in violation of their compact with the state, as it gives them more slot machines than they are actually allowed.

They say that the bingo machines are possibly slot machines, and that by having them they are more than 200 machines over their allowed amount. The tribe says that they are bingo machines and therefore not in violation of the slot machine compact that was signed.

The tribe has brought the 200 plus machines into their casino near El Cajon, and say that they are in compliance with the law – even though the state says otherwise. The commission is meeting next week to decide if there has been a violation or not, and if so then they will ask Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to take action against the tribe.

This usually means that he would need to enter into talks with the tribe to remove the machines or renegotiate the slot machine compact. It could also mean threatening legal action or bringing federal gambling regulators into it. Experts say that as there are many options available, it is hard to say which one they will use.

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