With two weeks left in the legislative session, a California bill providing Indian tribes standing to sue cardrooms over the way they offer banked games such as blackjack is being primed for possible passage.

The Assembly Appropriations Committee advanced the Tribal Nations Access to Justice Act on Thursday with a 14-0 vote.

The late committee action for SB549, which also moved through the Governmental Organization (GO) Committee last month by a 14-1 vote, seems to indicate plans for a floor vote, at least in the Assembly.

Tuari Bigknife, attorney general for the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians, which has led the charge for the bill, hopes for Assembly passage next week.

The bill must pass the Assembly and get concurrence from the Senate before the legislature adjourns on Aug. 31, then be signed by the governor.

SB549 will have some support from leadership on the Assembly floor. Assembly Majority Leader Cecilia Aguiar-Curry is a joint sponsor of the bill.

"There’s no reason to think it’s not going to get a vote,” Bigknife said. "In my opinion, it would have died in any one of these committees if it wasn’t going to get its day. We’re pretty sure we have the votes to pass it in the Assembly, but until someone casts their vote you can never say for sure.”

Why California Indian tribes are asking for legislation

California Indian tribes have long held that California cardrooms violate state law and tribal gaming exclusivity by offering banked card games.

The California Constitution prohibits Nevada- and New Jersey-style casino gaming.

In 2000, voters passed Prop 1A amending the state constitution to provide an exception for Indian tribes. By entering into compacts with the state, they could offer slot machines, banked and percentage games at casinos on tribal lands.

https://www.playusa.com/california-tribal-cardroom-lawsuit-bill-assembly-floor/