Tribe Files Lawsuit Against State
Tuolumne, CA – The Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians has filed a lawsuit related to the number of gaming machines Black Oak Casino is allowed to operate.
"The crux of the issue is the interpretation of the 1999 gaming compact that this tribe and other tribes signed with the state of California," says Ron Patel, Black Oak Casino General Manager. "The compact actually states ‘no more than 2000′ (gaming machines), but the formula that the state and tribes use is different, and there is nothing that clarifies that within the compact or agreement."
"The only course of action for our tribe, or any tribe, is the legal course," adds Patel.
Black Oak Casino currently has 1,013 gaming machines and the tribe would like the ability to have up to 2,000. The lawsuit against the state was filed in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California.
Written by bjhansen@mlode.com.
