Tribes hit the jackpot

Voters in Riverside and San Diego counties approved massive future expansions of Indian gaming. About 63 percent of Riverside County voters – the highest in the state – cast ballots in favor of gaming expansions at major casinos. San Diego County voters showed strong support at 60 percent in favor of future gaming expansions.

The four tribes targeted by the statewide measures are all located in the two counties.

About 56 percent of voters statewide backed the four measures, with the highest opposition coming from Bay Area counties.

In all, voters in 15 of the state’s 58 counties rejected or were evenly split over what will likely be another flurry of casino expansions across California.

Passage of Proposition 94, which targeted Temecula’s Pechanga tribe, is not expected to bring immediate changes to the casino that opened in temporary buildings in July 1995 and has grown steadily to include a hotel, recreational vehicle park, gas station and convenience store and sprawling gaming, restaurant and entertainment venues.

Before the election, Pechanga officials said they had no immediate plans to expand their operations beyond the completion of a golf course that is now under construction.

That status could change quickly as an agreement Pechanga previously reached with the state – a pact allowing the tribe to expand its casino from the 2,000 slot machines currently allowed to 7,500 – now comes into play.

Such an expansion would make the Pechanga casino the largest in a vast area stretching from San Diego to the Coachella Valley.

The companion ballot measures, which were also rejected by local and statewide voters, were aimed at halting future gaming expansions at two other Riverside County tribes, Morongo and Agua Caliente, as well as San Diego County’s Sycuan tribe.

Advertisements that focused on potential gaming revenues and impacts crowded the airwaves in the weeks leading to the election.

Several local Indian leaders played key roles in the fiery debate, which closed as a California Field Poll reported an erosion of voter support for the expansion measures.

Pechanga Tribal Chairman Mark Macarro appeared in television ads mirroring the advertising barrages that marked previous pro-gaming measures. Leaders of an ejected Pechanga family also appeared on TV, radio and at numerous public events.

The two sides were expected to spend about $110 million on advertising and other campaign costs. Of that amount, the pro-expansion forces had raised more than $85 million.

The expansion measures also widened a rift between the Pechanga and Pala tribes, which operate competing Inland casinos about 10 miles from each other.

The Pala tribe was a key financial backer of the gaming measures that were defeated Tuesday.

The two tribes have feuded for years over when and how Indian tribes should reach gaming agreements with the state.

At the same time, growth at the tribes’ casinos kept pace with each other as the popularity of Indian gaming mushroomed.

Approval of the gaming measures could allow Pechanga to again eclipse the Pala tribe in gaming offerings and amenities.