US District Court rejects California tribes’ claims
The United States District Court has dismissed a lawsuit filed by three California tribes against the State of California and Governor Gavin Newsom.
The lawsuit claimed the tribes had exclusivity on games like baccarat and blackjack, and asked the state to shut down lawful card rooms providing them to players.
The District Court ruled the tribes’ compacts did not give them sole operating rights to these games in California.
Card rooms have offered such games for decades, with approval from the Attorney General, and four previous cases at the California Court of Appeal have ruled card rooms can operate non-banked versions of baccarat, blackjack and the like.
In its ruling, the District Court emphasised its view that the tribes’ interpretation of their compact rights were flawed. It disagreed with the tribes’ argument that the most-recently entered compacts guarantee the same exclusivity bargained as part of agreements in 1999.
California Gaming Association President Kyle Kirkland said: “We will continue to oppose specious tribal attacks on our industry, employees and communities.
“Tens of thousands of Californians count on card room living wage jobs to support their families, and dozens of communities rely on the tax revenue we generate to support vital public services.”
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