Four California tribes were protesting Assembly Bill 831 (AB 831) outside the State Capitol in Sacramento on Monday. Members of Kletsel Dehe Wintun Nation, the Sherwood Valley Rancheria of Pomo Indians, the Mechoopda Indian Tribe of Chico Rancheria, and Big Lagoon Rancheria gathered outside the State Capitol in Sacramento to show their opposition to AB 831.
If passed into law, Bill AB831 would ban the operation of sweepstakes casinos in California. Monday, the bill was approved 36-0 by the full State Senate. The legislation now heads back to the California Assembly for approval of amendments made to the bill.
The tribes believe that passage of the bill would limit economic opportunities available to less wealthy tribes in the state by banning legitimate online social games that use sweepstakes promotions.
“For communities long overlooked and geographically isolated, digital commerce is not a luxury – it is a lifeline,” Eric Wright, Tribal Administrator of Kletsel Dehe Wintun Nation and CEO of Kletsel Economic Development Authority, the tribe’s economic development arm, said in a statement. “AB 831 would sever that lifeline."
Along with the economic impact on California tribes, protesters also feel that AB831 is creating a division in tribal unity across the state. They argue that the language of the bill is a violation of tribal sovereignty.
They note that AB 831 contains broad criminalization language that would impose criminal penalties on those who “support directly or indirectly the operation, conduct, or promotion of an online sweepstakes game.”
As written, AB 831 also applies to tribal nations. Extending state criminal jurisdiction into Indian Country violates federal law and would be an encroachment on tribal sovereignty.
“We were proud to join with other tribes at the Capitol in Sacramento to tell lawmakers that eliminating legitimate, regulated digital enterprise will only deepen the disparities our people face, erode our tribal self-sufficiency, and contradict California’s stated commitment to equity and inclusion for all tribal nations," Buffey Bourassa, Secretary of the Sherwood Valley Rancheria of Pomo Indians, said in a statement.
"We call on California legislators to reject AB 831 and instead advance inclusive policies that support digital innovation, economic diversification, and tribal self-determination. The future of our communities depends on it.”
These tribes also feel that they've been left out of the debate over AB831, even though it is a bill that will have a significant impact on them if passed into law.
“This bill has moved forward without meaningful consultation with our tribes, and it threatens to even further entrench a two-tiered system that benefits wealthy gaming tribes while marginalizing more rural nations like ours," Dennis Ramirez, Chairman of the Mechoopda Indian Tribe of Chico Rancheria, said in a press release.
"We urge California lawmakers to reject AB 831 and stand firmly for tribal sovereignty, equity, and economic justice.”
An impact study conducted by Eilers & Kejcik Gaming found that social and sweepstakes casinos generate more than $1 billion annually in revenue in California. Two of the tribes taking part in Monday's protest have vested interests in maintaining this industry in the state.
The Sherwood Valley Band of Pomo Indians formed a digital partnership with B-Two Operations. That company operates Hello Millions and McLuck sweepstakes casinos.
The Kletsel Dehe Wintun Nation and sweepstakes casino operator VGW have also entered into a partnership deal. VGW operates sweepstakes casinos Chumba Casino and Luckyland Slots, along with Global Poker.
Rather than an outright ban, these tribes would prefer to see California's government work to develop regulatory and taxation legislation for sweepstakes casino operations.
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