Seven Native American tribes in California filed a lawsuit against dozens of card rooms, alleging they illegally offer card games like blackjack and pai gow poker. The tribes argue that they have the exclusive right to host these games, granted by California voters, and that the card rooms are encroaching on their gambling revenues. The card room industry maintains they are operating within the law. Millions of dollars in tax revenue for cities that rely heavily on card room taxes could be at stake depending on the court's decision.
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.
CALIFORNIA TRIBAL CASINOS CARD ROOMS GAMBLING LAWS TAX REVENUE
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