Golden State growth
Golden State growth
California tribes have several casino projects in the works
The tribal government gambling industry in California is continuing to grow as hundreds apply for jobs in a new casino in the desert community of Thermal, and the city council approves a package for a second casino in Richmond, near San Francisco.
Meanwhile, the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians has broken ground on an off-reservation hotel and commercial project in San Bernardino, and the Pala Indians in north San Diego County released a report on the impact of an expansion of their resort.
The state Legislature early next year is expected to approve tribal-state agreements that will grow the state's gambling industry by more than 22,000 machines. Sixty-one tribes operated casinos in 2005, generating some $7.2 billion in revenue.
The Torres-Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians said a job fair sponsored by the Riverside County Economic Development agency generated more than 100 applications for a $20 million, 329-slot machine casino the tribe hopes to open Feb. 15 near its Travel Center on Highway 86 near Indio.
"The response has been good," C.J. Burdette, the tribe's human resources director, told the Desert Sun newspaper. "We're getting a good draw of talent," he said, with applications coming from as far as North and South Carolina.
Casino General Manager David Seufert said the project will generate about 160 jobs.
A planned expansion of the Pala casino resort will generate more traffic but will otherwise not seriously impact the surrounding community, according to an environmental report. Traffic will increase by about 1,100 cars per day.
The project will grow the casino from 182,000 square feet to 250,000 square feet, and add 1,372 parking spaces. The hotel will be remodeled and the spa redesigned.
The tribe opened a $115 million casino on its reservation near the San Luis Rey River in April 2001. It added a 10-story, 507-room hotel and spa in 2003. The complex has a spa, two restaurants, an outdoor concert venue and a meeting and convention center.
"The demand for hotel rooms, restaurant seating and parking has exceeded the supply on many occasions," the tribe said in a statement issued late last year. "The lack of accommodations has required the tribe to turn people away, resulting in unhappy customers and a loss of potential revenue."
The expansion project will allow the tribe to increase the number of slot machines from 2,274 to 2,524, more than any other tribe in the county.
The Richmond City Council recently approved a contract to provide services for a 225,000-square-foot, 1,940-slot machine casino planned for unincorporated North Richmond, near San Francisco. The Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians agreed to pay the city $335 million over 20 years for police and fire services.
Scotts Valley is seeking permission from the Bureau of Indian Affairs to establish a reservation on land to which critics say it has no historic ties. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is opposed to the project and has not approved a tribal-state compact for Class III, casino-style gambling. San Pablo operates a large, non-compacted Class II casino in the area.
Work has also begun on an off-reservation Hampton Inn and commercial project in San Bernardino by the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians. The 12-acre project is intended to diversify the tribe's local economy, which includes San Manuel Bingo and Casino.
The San Manuel Band has hotel interests in Washington, D.C., and Sacramento as well as a restaurant in Pasadena and other office, commercial and retail properties.
-Staff Reports
California tribes have several casino projects in the works
The tribal government gambling industry in California is continuing to grow as hundreds apply for jobs in a new casino in the desert community of Thermal, and the city council approves a package for a second casino in Richmond, near San Francisco.
Meanwhile, the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians has broken ground on an off-reservation hotel and commercial project in San Bernardino, and the Pala Indians in north San Diego County released a report on the impact of an expansion of their resort.
The state Legislature early next year is expected to approve tribal-state agreements that will grow the state's gambling industry by more than 22,000 machines. Sixty-one tribes operated casinos in 2005, generating some $7.2 billion in revenue.
The Torres-Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians said a job fair sponsored by the Riverside County Economic Development agency generated more than 100 applications for a $20 million, 329-slot machine casino the tribe hopes to open Feb. 15 near its Travel Center on Highway 86 near Indio.
"The response has been good," C.J. Burdette, the tribe's human resources director, told the Desert Sun newspaper. "We're getting a good draw of talent," he said, with applications coming from as far as North and South Carolina.
Casino General Manager David Seufert said the project will generate about 160 jobs.
A planned expansion of the Pala casino resort will generate more traffic but will otherwise not seriously impact the surrounding community, according to an environmental report. Traffic will increase by about 1,100 cars per day.
The project will grow the casino from 182,000 square feet to 250,000 square feet, and add 1,372 parking spaces. The hotel will be remodeled and the spa redesigned.
The tribe opened a $115 million casino on its reservation near the San Luis Rey River in April 2001. It added a 10-story, 507-room hotel and spa in 2003. The complex has a spa, two restaurants, an outdoor concert venue and a meeting and convention center.
"The demand for hotel rooms, restaurant seating and parking has exceeded the supply on many occasions," the tribe said in a statement issued late last year. "The lack of accommodations has required the tribe to turn people away, resulting in unhappy customers and a loss of potential revenue."
The expansion project will allow the tribe to increase the number of slot machines from 2,274 to 2,524, more than any other tribe in the county.
The Richmond City Council recently approved a contract to provide services for a 225,000-square-foot, 1,940-slot machine casino planned for unincorporated North Richmond, near San Francisco. The Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians agreed to pay the city $335 million over 20 years for police and fire services.
Scotts Valley is seeking permission from the Bureau of Indian Affairs to establish a reservation on land to which critics say it has no historic ties. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is opposed to the project and has not approved a tribal-state compact for Class III, casino-style gambling. San Pablo operates a large, non-compacted Class II casino in the area.
Work has also begun on an off-reservation Hampton Inn and commercial project in San Bernardino by the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians. The 12-acre project is intended to diversify the tribe's local economy, which includes San Manuel Bingo and Casino.
The San Manuel Band has hotel interests in Washington, D.C., and Sacramento as well as a restaurant in Pasadena and other office, commercial and retail properties.
-Staff Reports
