Seven Native American casino-owning tribes in California filed a lawsuit against dozens of card rooms, alleging they illegally offer table games like blackjack and pai gow poker. The tribes argue that voters granted them exclusive rights to these games, claiming card rooms are infringing on their gambling revenues. The card room industry maintains full compliance with the law and expects the lawsuit to fail. This legal battle could impact millions of dollars in tax revenues for cities that rely heavily on cardroom taxes.
On Thursday, California’s casino-owning tribes sued their rival card rooms including Commerce Casino, pictured here. The tribes allege card rooms are illegally offering card games including black jack and pai gow poker. On their first opportunity since a new law took effect Jan. 1, seven casino-owning Native American tribes filed suit in Sacramento County Thursday against dozens of California card rooms , opening a new front in one of last year’s most expensive political battles.
“This attempt by tribal casinos to shut down lawful competition by tax-paying California businesses will fail,” the statement said.. Tribes say California voters years ago gave them the exclusive rights to host the disputed table games, which they use to benefit historically disenfranchised tribal communities.
Under the bill, tribes cannot receive any money or attorneys’ fees from the lawsuit. Instead, judges will only decide whether card rooms can continue to offer the disputed games. San Jose City Councilmember Sergio Jimenez told lawmakers in July that the city receives $30 million each year from card rooms, enough to fund 150 police officers or 133 firefighters. Jimenez said that money’s in jeopardy if the tribes end up prevailing in court.
Casino Card Rooms Lawsuit Gambling Taxes
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