LA Times
California tribes seek to ban ... bingo

“Rich, politically powerful Indian tribes are pushing California legislators to outlaw some casino competition: slot-like bingo machines that generate millions of dollars for high school sports teams, the blind and disabled.”

“The proposed ban was written only two weeks ago – months after the deadline for introducing legislation. State Sen. Gil Cedillo (D-Los Angeles) gutted a bill about school lunches and inserted the bingo measure.”

“Tribes ‘have the political power because they have the money,’ said I. Nelson Rose, a Whittier Law School professor and gambling law expert.”

CC Times
Lawmakers push ban on electronic bingo

"But Gibbs, of the Blue Devils, said charities like his could never generate enough new players to make remote-caller bingo profitable. Opponents of the bill say the pooled games would expand statewide gambling and could crimp State Lottery revenues."

"Questioning the rush, Assemblyman Mark DeSaulnier, D-Concord, cast one of the three no votes"

Sacramento Bee
Editorial B-I-N-G-O V-E-T-O

“Every session of the Legislature offers several examples of some big interest groups ganging up to kick the stuffing out of a smaller interest group. In this session, the premier example centers on the seemingly innocuous game of bingo.”

“The big guys in this instance are the state's Indian tribes…(who) have joined forces to push through a bill that would outlaw electronic bingo machines, and in the process cripple fundraising efforts for an untold number of small charities across California.”

“This bill takes care of the tribes…at the expense of countless smaller charities…that rely on electronic games. These charities do good works but are simply no match for the army of lobbyists at the disposal of the tribes…”

“One of the classic Hollywood movie clichés involves the hero stepping in to stop the big guy from kicking the little guy around. Such a script typically requires the presence of a strong, manly hero with a flair for the dramatic and an innate sense of fairness.”

“Now, that seems to strike a familiar chord. Is there anybody around the Capitol these days who could fill such a role, with a pen if not with fists? Is there, Governor?”

Guards, tribes unions work Capitol

“The tribes' casinos have a legal monopoly on slot machines, reap many billions of dollars from them ‘every year and don't countenance any competition’.”

“There is a double irony attached to the tribes' bill. The charities' electronic bingo games are quite similar to those that tribes themselves operated before they gained their legal monopoly, and one section of their bill could open the door to the tribes offering Internet-based gambling.”

Bingo bill took circuitous route through Capitol

"U.S. District Court Judge John A. Mendez is issuing a preliminary injunction against the state Department of Justice, preventing any seizure of the bingo machines until the case is heard. Mendez suggests Attorney General Brown is being prodded by tribes' threats to suspend revenue-sharing payments. "This is all about a political process that is pushing the attorney general to enforce its interpretation of the law," Mendez says. "That's the elephant in this room."

"Campaign finance statements filed with the secretary of state's office show the five tribes that had new casino deals approved by the Legislature last year gave a combined total of $656,700 to 70 of the 120 legislators during the first six months of 2008."

Editorial: If tribes want it – BINGO! – they get it

"That said, this session's bingo bill once again highlights the clout of gambling tribes. When it comes to the Legislature, the tribes almost always get what they demand. What will they demand next?"