RubinBrown Gaming Stats 2013

SACRAMENTO REGION

Amidst the uptick in gaming revenues, soft economic conditions and increasing competition continue to place stress on tribes within the Sacramento Region. Throughout 2012, multiple tribes struggled to cover their debt payments and sought out debt restructuring, including the deferral of principal payments. In October 2012, La Posta Casino, located 60 miles west of San Diego near Interstate 8, ultimately decided to close its doors. Even though the overall California gaming market remains soft, some tribes remain opportunistic for future growth. Notable expansion and renovation projects within the Sacramento Region in 2012 included: The Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake opened its 33,000 square foot Running Creek Casino, located in Lake County, California, which includes two restaurants and a full service bar. The Jackson Rancheria tribe re-opened its Jackson Rancheria Casino Resort, located 50 miles west of Sacramento, California, after completing $80 million in renovations that included the addition of a VIP room for high limit players. The Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians broke ground on a new 403-room hotel and a 2,200-seat convention and entertainment center next to their existing Harrah’s Rincon Casino and Resort, located 20 miles northeast of Escondido, California. Californians can expect the development of new casinos to continue. In August 2012, California Governor Jerry Brown signed gaming compacts with two tribes, the North Fork Rancheria Band of Mono Indians, located 45 miles north of Fresno, California, and the Enterprise Rancheria of Maidu Indians, located 70 miles north of Sacramento, California. While gaming compacts are not new to California, neighboring tribes, municipalities, and Californians are at odds with the new state-gaming compacts as they permit “off-reservation” casinos. Even though the successful approval of the compacts demonstrates steps forward in the post-Carcierci Decision (2009) era of tribal gaming, the compacts will most certainly test the impact of the recent Patchak Decision.

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