Member of the California Assembly Evan Low, a Democrat, who represents the 26th Assembly District in Silicon Valley, recently supported a controversial bill that could lead to major losses in local tax revenue if signed into law. Governor Gavin Newsom introduced the Tribal Nations Access to Justice Act (SB549) which intends to provide tribal nations with legal tools to protect their interests in gaming compacts.
If Gov Newsom passes the bill it could be tougher for card rooms to stay in business if tribal nations sue them. For a long time, the native nations have accused card rooms of illegally offering games like blackjack and pai gow poker. If things go badly, it could result in fewer places for Californians to gamble, leading some players to look for other options, like offshore poker sites, in order to keep playing.
Casino Expert Cameron Dhaliwal states that the best offshore poker sites for US players are legitimate platforms that offer higher stakes, have bigger bonuses, and are available to US players regardless of individual state laws. These platforms are based outside the US, so they operate in a legal gray area since they aren’t subject to California laws. They also offer a wider array of poker games like Texas Hold’em and Omaha, which gamblers can play without worrying about local restrictions.
Even though the bill might close some private card rooms and lower tax revenue for local areas, Evan Low voted for it twice, raising concerns about his motives. Although Low mentioned the economic benefits of his move, some people are concerned that it might sway political decisions in a manner that affects the gambling industry as a whole.
Adding to the controversy, shortly after Low’s votes, the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians, a tribe backing the bill, spent $60,000 on radio ads supporting his congressional campaign. It is illegal for lawmakers to trade votes for campaign contributions.
Sean McMorris from California Common Cause, which regularly advocates for election protections, suggested that the ads seemed like a reward for Low’s support. However, the tribe’s attorney general, Tauri Bigknife, denied any connection, emphasizing that the tribe had supported Low before his votes.
Low’s vote resulted in a backlash from the card rooms which launched a negative campaign against him. Late last month, card rooms funded Californians to Protect City Services and Local Jobs, a group advocating for increased funds and support for basic city services and local jobs in California.
The group put up a billboard on Highway 101 near the San Jose airport accusing Low of harming small businesses and causing an estimated 32,000 jobs to be lost. The bill is currently under consideration by the California Legislature.
While all this plays out, a new casino and resort is set to open in California, thanks to a partnership between Las Vegas-based Station Casinos and the North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians. The property, which is worth $400,000, is set to start operating in 2026. The project near Madera, California, will be completely owned by the tribe, and Station Casinos will manage the resort.
Mayor Santos Garcia of Madera California, who is no stranger to tackling controversial and divisive issues head-on, kicked off a groundbreaking ceremony for the new casino project. Hundreds of tribal members, locals, and representatives from Station Casinos were there to witness the event. The casino will be built on the tribe’s land, about 25 miles north of Fresno.
Construction is already starting on the North Fork Mono Casino, a massive 100,000-square-foot facility located in Madera, California. The resort will also feature two restaurants with full service, six quick-service eateries, and plenty of parking. And entertainment to make the visit more enjoyable.
Station Casinos has experience managing tribal casinos. They’ve previously run Thunder Valley near Sacramento, Graton near Santa Rosa, and Gun Lake near Grand Rapids. In each case, the tribes decided to manage their casinos after their contracts with Station Casinos ended.
The project has been in the works for over 20 years, with the tribe and local officials working together. The local economy is expected to grow because of the new casino and resort and improve life for both tribal members and the nearby community.
