Three California tribes will protest Assembly Bill 831 (AB 831) at the State Capitol in Sacramento. This includes the Kletsel Dehe Wintun Nation, Sherwood Valley Rancheria of Pomo Indians, and Mechoopda Indian Tribe of Chico Rancheria. AB 831 seeks to ban sweepstakes casinos, an idea that has caused division among California tribes. The tribal protest takes place on Monday, September 8th.
These tribes argue that AB 831 threatens tribal sovereignty and limits economic opportunities. They believe that banning sweepstakes casinos would cut off emerging opportunities for smaller tribal nations that lack the large-scale casino operations of their peers.
Leaders from the Kletsel Dehe Wintun Nation, Sherwood Valley Rancheria, and Mechoopda Tribe emphasize that the legislation was introduced late in the session through a “gut and amend” process, leaving little room for consultation. The tribes believe that this rushed approach doesn’t allow for fair representation of their own interests.
Kletsel Dehe Wintun, Sherwood Valley, and Mechoopda argue that instead of banning these digital gaming models outright, lawmakers should develop a modern regulatory framework that safeguards sovereignty while generating revenue for both tribes and the state.
While larger tribes that support AB 831, like the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, have the resources to deal with regulatory changes, smaller tribes depend on partnerships with sweepstakes casino platforms to diversify revenue.
These alliances reflect a strategy to embrace digital gaming as a source of long-term economic growth.
Here’s what the partnerships look like:
In aligning with sweepstakes casinos and protesting AB 831, these three tribes are pushing back against tribes like San Manuel.
These three tribes argue that San Manuel’s backing highlights a disparity in tribal resources and influence. Large tribes with well-established casino operations (like San Manuel) may not rely on emerging digital markets in the same way that smaller nations do.
For tribes like the Kletsel Dehe Wintun Nation, Sherwood Valley Rancheria, and Mechoopda Tribe, sweepstakes gaming partnerships represent vital opportunities to diversify their economies and support community services.
By protesting at the State Capitol, these tribes aim to remind lawmakers that tribal perspectives are nuanced and that legislation should account for the varied interests within California tribes.
San Manuel operates Yaamava’ Resort & Casino, one of the largest tribal casinos in the United States. The tribe supports AB 831, arguing that sweepstakes casinos operate outside the state’s regulated gaming framework, creating consumer risks and undermining tribes that have invested heavily in licensed, land-based gaming operations.
From San Manuel’s perspective, AB 831 represents a way to safeguard the integrity of California’s gaming industry. Backers contend that the bill would close legal loopholes, protect consumers from unregulated operators, and reinforce the agreements that tribes have with the state.
Needless to say, the debate over AB 831 underscores a growing divide within California’s tribal gaming community, which has culminated in this protest in Sacramento.
