Members of Kletsel Dehe Wintun Nation, the Sherwood Valley Rancheria of Pomo Indians, the Mechoopda Indian Tribe of Chico Rancheria, and Big Lagoon Rancheria gathered outside the Capitol in Sacramento on Monday to protest a bill backed by the California Nations Indian Gaming Association targeting sweepstakes casino operators.
California AB 831 Would Limit Economic Opportunities
If passed, Assembly Bill 831 would limit economic opportunities available to less wealthy California tribes by banning online casino-style games that use sweepstakes promotions. The measure would also eliminate more than $1 billion of existing economic activity generated by the industry in California.
“AB 831 is a flawed and rushed bill that lacks broad tribal consensus. As Kletsel Dehe Wintun Nation, the Sherwood Valley Rancheria of Pomo Indians, the Mechoopda Indian Tribe of Chico Rancheria, and Big Lagoon Rancheria have made clear, this bill would limit economic options available to tribes and worsen already fragile economic conditions,” said Jeff Duncan, Executive Director of the Social Gaming Leadership Alliance (SGLA) and former Congressman.
“What California lawmakers should focus on instead is creating proper regulation that supports online social games, creates new revenue sources for the state, and protects economic opportunities for all tribes.”
Tribes’ Protest Focused On Three Themes
According to the SGLA, the tribes’ protest focused on the following issues:
- Economic Disparity. Tribes in more geographically isolated areas often lack the scale and resources of wealthy, established gaming tribes. AB 831 would eliminate digital commerce opportunities for economically disadvantaged tribes to partner with social gaming operators that could provide essential revenue streams to fund critical services such as healthcare, education, housing, food security, and social programs.
- Lack of Tribal Unity. The growing number of tribes coming out in opposition to AB 831 underscores the growing divide among tribal nations when it comes to the legislation.
- Violation of Tribal Sovereignty. AB 831 contains broad criminalization language that would impose criminal penalties on those who “support directly or indirectly the operation, conduct, or promotion of an online sweepstakes game.” If passed, AB 831 would also extend state criminal jurisdiction into Indian Country, violating federal law and tribal sovereignty.
The four tribes previously sent letters to state legislators, including President Pro Tempore Senator Mike McGuire and Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Senator Anna Caballero, voicing their opposition against AB 831.
AB 831 was introduced as a “gut-and-amend” bill in July. The members of these tribal nations and others are urging California lawmakers to reject AB 831 and instead pursue policies that “expand economic opportunity, respect tribal sovereignty, and preserve access to popular forms of digital entertainment for all Californians,” per the SGLA.