Section 98001 Of Title 16. State–tribal Agreements Governing Indian Gaming From California Government Code >> Title 16.
98001
. (a) The people of the State of California find that,
historically, Indian tribes within the state have long suffered from
high rates of unemployment and inadequate educational, housing,
elderly care, and health care opportunities, while typically being
located on lands that are not conducive to economic development in
order to meet those needs. Federal law provides a statutory basis for
conducting licensed and regulated tribal government gaming on, and
limited to, qualified Indian lands, as a means of strengthening
tribal self-sufficiency through the creation of jobs and tribal
economic development. Federal law also provides that certain forms of
gaming, known as "class III gaming," will be the subject of an
agreement between a tribe and the state (a "Tribal-State compact"),
pursuant to which that gaming will be governed.
(b) The people of the state find that uncertainties have developed
over various issues concerning class III gaming and the development
of Tribal-State compacts between the state and tribes, and that those
uncertainties have led to delays and considerable expense. The
Tribal-State compact terms set forth in Section 98004 (the "Gaming
Compact"), including the geographic confinement of that gaming to
certain tribal lands, the agreement and limitations on the kinds of
class III gaming in which a tribe operating thereunder may be
engaged, and the regulation and licensing required thereunder, are
intended to resolve those uncertainties in an efficient and
cost-effective way, while meeting the basic and mutual needs of the
state and the tribes without undue delay. The resolution of
uncertainty regarding class III gaming in California, the generation
of employment and tribal economic development that will result
therefrom, and the limitations on the growth of gaming in California
that are inherent therein, are in the best and immediate interest of
all citizens of the state. This chapter has been enacted as a matter
of public policy and in recognition that it fulfills important state
needs. All of the factors the state could consider in negotiating a
Tribal-State compact under federal law have been taken into account
in offering to tribes the terms set forth in the Gaming Compact.
(c) The people of the state further find that casinos of the type
currently operating in Nevada and New Jersey are materially different
from the tribal gaming facilities authorized under this chapter,
including those in which the gaming activities under the Gaming
Compact are conducted, in that the casinos in those states (1)
commonly offer their patrons a broad spectrum of house-banked games,
including but not limited to house-banked card games, roulette, dice
games, and slot machines that dispense coins or currency, none of
which games are authorized under this chapter; and (2) are owned by
private companies, individuals, or others that are not restricted on
how their profits may be expended, whereas tribal governments must be
the primary beneficiaries of the gaming facilities under this
chapter and the Gaming Compact, and are limited to using their gaming
revenues for various tribal purposes, including tribal government
services and programs such as those that address reservation housing,
elderly care, education, economic development, health care, and
other tribal programs and needs, in conformity with federal law.