Thoroughbred Owners of California to Seek Expanded Gaming

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Tribal Leaders Say This Would Be a Violation of Public Policy


SACRAMENTO, Calif., July 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Efforts by California's thoroughbred racing industry to expand gaming at state racetracks, if successful, would be a violation of established public policy to limit new legal gambling to Indian lands, tribal leaders said Wednesday.

In December of 2002 the Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC) listed legalizing slot machines at California's racetracks as its top priority for 2003. Yesterday, TOC President John Van de Kamp stated that the TOC plans to develop legislation over the next two weeks that would authorize an expansion of gaming at California race tracks. Mr. Van de Kamp declined to reveal specific details of their expansion plans.

Just two years ago, Governor Davis signed legislation that expanded gambling opportunities for the tracks to include the use of telephones and the internet to place wagers from advanced deposit wagering (ADW) accounts. According to the California Horse Racing Board's 2001-2002 annual report ADW generated over $156 million in the first 10 months of operation. The report continues to state that, "There was no evidence of cannibalization (of the handle) during the first 10 months of ADW."

"Californians voted overwhelmingly for limited tribal government gaming on Indian lands. What they didn't vote for was widespread private, for-profit gambling," said Brenda Soulliere, chairwoman for the California Nations Indian Gaming Association (CNIGA).

"Funds from tribal government gaming have allowed tribes to provide basic government services such as electricity, roads, healthcare, and education for its members. Now private, for-profit gambling interests threaten to take away the improvements to the lives of our people and our surrounding communities," says Soulliere.

More than 65 percent of the voters in March 2000 approved Proposition 1A, a constitutional amendment that allows tribal governments to operate casino-style slot machines and house-banked card games as a means of generating strong tribal self-governance and economic self-reliance.

"The public overwhelmingly supported tribal self-reliance in approving Proposition 1A and continue to do so today," says Soulliere. "Tribal government gaming has proven to be an effective tool in generating jobs and economic development both on and off tribal reservations and rancherias."

Tribal governments employ nearly 38,700 workers, a 14.8 percent increase in employment for the year ending in June 2003, state figures show. In addition, tribal governments are using gaming revenues to diversify their economies.

"Tribal governments are using gaming revenues to develop resorts, factories and other businesses that generate even more jobs and economic development," says Jacob Coin, Executive Director of the California Nations Indian Gaming Association. "This is government gaming. The intent is to enable Indian tribes to strengthen tribal governments, to build tribal economies and provide for the health and welfare of tribal members."

"Slots at the racetracks is private, for-profit gambling," Soulliere says. "The intent is to do nothing but generate even more revenue for proprietors of racetracks and the thoroughbred racing industry."