The Assembly deleted SB 1235’s Gambling Control Commission oversight language on Aug. 18 and replaced it with three tribal gaming compacts. The deleted section would have required the governor to notify two legislative committees whenever he removes a gambling commissioner. The new text ratifies compacts with the Picayune Rancheria, Fort Mojave and Pechanga, executed between … Read more
The commission has run without an acting or permanent chair since Jan. 13, when Sharon Avery’s term ended. It approved two gaming ordinance amendments nationwide in 2026, neither in California, down from 19 in 2025. California’s most recent approval went to the Soboba Band of Luiseno Mission Indians on Nov. 24, 2025. Compacts, land into … Read more
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a 25-year compact Aug. 4 raising the Yurok Tribe’s machine cap from 99 to 349. California drops its 10% to 25% cut of the tribe’s net win for a share of regulatory costs. At 349 devices the tribe stays a Limited-Gaming Tribe drawing $275,000 a quarter from the state fund. The … Read more
Bowyer says he saw Mizuhara’s problem gambling inside 30 days, then kept raising his betting limits. Prosecutors say the illegal book ran at least five years and at times had more than 700 bettors. Mizuhara placed at least 19,000 bets and finished about $40.68 million down, the sentencing record shows. Bowyer sent at least $9.3 … Read more
Twelve senators, including both from California, asked Senate committees July 17 for an IGRA savings clause and an event-contract ban. Senate bill 4160, the standalone measure that would supply that ban, protects state law but never mentions IGRA or tribal compacts. The CLARITY Act carries neither protection, and the Senate leaves Aug. 10 and does … Read more
The United Auburn Indian Community named general manager Dawn Clayton chief executive of Thunder Valley Casino Resort on Aug. 4. Clayton has spent 16 of her 44 years in gaming and hospitality at Thunder Valley, the past 13 running operations. The tribe’s compact caps the property at 3,500 gaming devices and two facilities through Dec. … Read more
Interior found the band had not shown a significant historical connection to the Vallejo parcel. The finding also blocks the eight-story, $700 million resort planned for the 160.33-acre trust parcel. Scotts Valley suspended gaming at the hall it opened July 24 and said it will sue in federal court. A federal court set aside Interior’s … Read more
DraftKings fended off California players who wanted their gambling losses back. But the judge kept alive the one claim that could shut its paid fantasy contests statewide. SAN FRANCISCO — A federal judge has permanently barred California players from recovering the money they lost on DraftKings, while keeping the case alive on the one claim … Read more
Wilton Rancheria asked the Bureau of Indian Affairs to take 90.57 acres in Elk Grove into federal trust. The nine parcels beside Sky River Casino would carry 150,000 square feet of office and 400,000 of commercial space. The environmental assessment proposes no gaming, unlike the 2017 acquisition that made the Sky River site gaming-eligible. Public … Read more
The Fort Mojave Indian Tribe received $275,000 for the quarter ended June 30 and $27.1 million to date. Section 5.2 of the new compact says the tribe owes no payment to the Revenue Sharing Trust Fund. The compact authorizes 1,200 gaming devices and two casinos but records the tribe’s intent to stay under 350 devices. … Read more