Indian Bands Discuss Side-By-Side Casinos
Proposed Plan Could Become Biggest Indian Gaming Complex
POSTED: 9:59 a.m. PDT August 18, 2004
SAN DIEGO -- The Ewiiaapaayp and Viejas Indian bands are discussing a plan for side-by-side casinos on the Viejas reservation, a project that would be the nation's largest Indian gaming complex, it was reported Wednesday.
Ewiiaapaayp officials confirmed that they are working with Viejas, and that they have been negotiating with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger for a revised gaming compact similar to Viejas' that would allow for an unlimited number of slot machines, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported. Neither tribe provided specific details of the joint plan.
Ewiiaapaayp Vice Chairman Michael Garcia told the newspaper that the governor's negotiators want "a very large percentage" of revenues from his seven-member tribe. "We haven't settled anything yet," he said.
Garcia told the Union-Tribune that he hopes his tribe signs a deal with the governor this week. New compacts with at least three other tribes in Northern and Central California are expected to be announced later this week.
Garcia told the newspaper that opening a casino next to Viejas' is among several proposals under discussion by the neighboring tribes.
The Ewiiaapaayp tribe signed a state gambling compact in 1999 and has been trying to get federal approval to build a casino on an Indian clinic site in Alpine, according to the Union-Tribune. The 10-acre parcel, about a mile west of the Viejas casino, was placed in federal trust about 20 years ago under Ewiiaapaayp's name, although the clinic serves seven East County tribes.
Viejas and four other tribes signed revised gaming compacts in June, giving the state millions in added revenue in exchange for unlimited slots.
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