A Fresno County tribe with a tiny casino and major development aspirations was the big winner Monday as California officials granted licenses to allow 11 tribes a total of 3,548 new slot machines.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is appealing a court decision that allowed the new slot machine licenses for tribes under 1999 gambling agreements with the state.
The Big Sandy Band of Western Mono Indians was given approval by the California Gambling Control Commission to add 1,650 new slot machines at a major casino resort it hopes to develop. The tribe previously was allowed a maximum of 350 slots at its casino near the town of Auberry.
The Cachil Dehe Band of Wintun Indians, which operates the 846-slot Colusa Casino resort north of Sacramento, was granted licenses to add 427 machines.
U.S. District Court Judge Frank C. Damrell ruled Aug. 19 that California had improperly set a statewide cap on slot machines for tribes that signed gambling agreements in 1999. The licenses issued Monday represented about a third of the 10,549 new slot machine licenses Damrell ordered the state to make available.
Call The Bee's Peter Hecht, (916) 326-5539.
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